A NEW documentary on the life of Jane Austen will air this evening (March 31), and begins with a trip to Steventon, in Basingstoke and Deane.
The programme, entitled 'In Jane Austen's Footsteps with Gyles Brandreth' will see the broadcaster and writer take a deep-dive into the surroundings of one of Hampshire's biggest names.
The 18th century novelist was born in 1775 in the rural village of Steventon, seven miles south west of Basingstoke between the villages of Overton, Oakley and North Waltham.
In the documentary, Gyles Brandbreth explores her life and examines the locations that inspired her, as well as uncovering the real events behind some of her greatest stories.
He begins by visiting Austen's birthplace of Steventon and the church there where her father was rector, as well as the house in Chawton where she wrote all her novels.
He also travels to Bath, where she lived for a while as an adult, and Winchester, where she was laid to rest in the Cathedral, when she passed away in 1817.
- In Jane Austen's Footsteps with Gyles Brandreth airs at 9pm on Channel 5 on Wednesday, March 31.
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