BBC radio DJ, Nihal Arthanayake, is to pair up with Loughborough-based blacksmith, Josh Burrell for a series of short films on TV channel HISTORY®. The films will follow Nihal as he learns the art of forging iron and steel to create historic tools and weapons under Josh’s expert tutelage. Filmed in Josh Burrell’s forge in Loughborough, Nihal will attempt to master the ancient craft of forging and create a timber axe using only raw materials. Inspired by HISTORY’s weapon-forging competition show Forged In Fire [new series launching Thursday 29th March] acclaimed as ‘Bake Off with tomahawks…’ by the Guardian, the short films came about as a result of DJ Nihal’s enthusiasm for the hugely successful show, as demonstrated by his unsolicited tweets. The short films (1x90s & 1x180s) will premiere on the channel on Thursday 5th April to accompany the new series of Forged in Fire on HISTORY at 9pm (starting 29th March at 9pm).
Nihal said: Forged in Fire is an amazing show I found on HISTORY. When I was asked if I wanted to go to Loughborough and have a go at forging with Josh I knew I had to take HISTORY up on the offer. Who doesn’t want to fulfil that ancient need to use flame and muscle power to forge a piece of steel into something quite beautiful.
HISTORY previously filmed with Loughborough native, Josh and his father Graham Burrell, in June 2016 for Forged in Britain; a series of short films which focused on UK toolmakers and forgers
