Felixstowe to Norwich (S14E09)

Michael Portillo continues his rail exploration of the east of England, beginning with the seafront at Felixstowe, where in January 1953, the town was engulfed in the worst flooding to hit England in the 20th century. In Ipswich, Michael inspects new flood defences and is invited to operate the barrier which protects the town centre. From Orford, Michael makes tracks for what was Britain’s most secret military complex during World War II, Orford Ness. He hears how researchers stress tested nuclear bombs during the Cold War. In Norwich, Michael admires the Norman cathedral before heading to the city’s mail centre, where he traces the history of the postcode. At the city’s plate glass University of East Anglia, Michael investigates a master's degree course which launched many creative writers to stardom. (BBC)