BBC Factual has ordered a new episode of “Pompeii: The New Dig” from Lion Television for BBC2.

Following the three-part series Pompeii: The New Dig, BBC cameras return to the world-famous archaeological site to exclusively capture archaeologists at work as a series of new finds come to light.

A new episode (working title “The woman with the pearl earrings”) focuses on an extremely wealthy house that probably belonged to a high-ranking politician. In one of the rooms, archaeologists have found the bodies of a young man and an elderly woman holding a box of exquisite jewelry and gold coins.

The new film paints a picture of the owners’ luxurious lifestyle, which stands in stark contrast to the living conditions of the enslaved workers next door, which were highlighted in “Pompeii: The New Dig.”

Jack Bootle, head of commissioning at Specialist Factual, said: “When I heard that two new bodies had been discovered at the site, I knew the BBC had to return to Pompeii. Who were these people? How did they live? And why did they stay behind when so many fled? The dig will feel like a detective investigation as archaeologists try to get closer to an answer. This is an extraordinary, once-in-a-generation dig and I can’t wait to share it with BBC viewers.”

Richard Bradley, Chief Creative Officer at Lion TV, said: “It was a privilege to have a front row seat with the Italian archaeologists as they excavated this iconic site. The stunning discoveries continue and we are thrilled to be able to present the new finds to BBC viewers and viewers around the world.”

Although much of Pompeii has been excavated since its discovery, much of the city remains unexplored. The current excavation – the largest in a generation – is centered on an area called Region IX.

The new episode of Pompeii: The New Dig is a 1×60 minute programme for BBC Two and iPlayer, commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, and produced by Richard Bradley, Chief Creative Officer of Lion TV. It is co-produced by The Open University and ARTE, commissioned for ARTE by Hélène Ganichaud, directed by Pompeii expert Elena Mortelliti and produced by Marco Gangarossa. It is distributed by All3M and will be broadcast in 2025.

Jon Creamer

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