Television
James is the writer and presenter of the landmark BBC One Scotland documentary series Scotland from the Sky. Series One was first broadcast in summer 2018, with Series Two appearing in summer 2019, and Series Three in winter 2021.
scotland from the sky
James has spent over a decade researching and writing about the history of Scotland's National Collection of Aerial Photography, held in the archives of Historic Environment Scotland. In Scotland from the Sky he explores a century of incredible aerial photographs, which chart the ever-changing face of Scotland’s rural and urban landscapes.
Alongside capturing the nation's stunning scenery – past and present – from above, the series uncovers the remarkable tales of the people behind the lenses. Viewers will discover stories of First World War aerial photographers dodging bullets in the skies over the Somme; utopian planners who used the view from above to create the places we live in today; and the aerial archaeologists who continue to search for ancient remains from the skies.
“By delving into the Historic Environment Scotland archives we are – quite literally – offering a whole new perspective on the story of Scotland. It is remarkable, but largely unknown, just how much today’s landscapes have been shaped by the view from above. Huge tracts of the Highlands were transformed with the help of aerial photography, while post-war planners looked to the skies for the solutions to redesigning our greatest cities. At the same time, the aerial view has revolutionised our understanding of the past, resulting in the discovery of tens of thousands of ancient sites that could never have been spotted from the ground”
“Scotland from the Sky is a lavish, ambitious and fascinating series which tells the story of the evolution of Scotland’s towns and countryside through spectacular aerial photography. I am sure it will prove to be a compelling watch for audiences.”
