For the first time ever, CT scanning and X-Ray equipment bring new light to the secrets of the victims of the 79 AD eruption. Mary unpacks the human stories behind the tragic figures: gladiators, slaves, businesswomen and children. She goes behind the scenes of the ‘Great Pompeii Project’ where restoration teams have gradually removed the layers of time and deterioration from the frescoes and mosaics of houses closed to the public for decades. With the help of point-cloud scanning technology, Pompeii is seen and explained like never before.

Mary has unprecedented access to hidden storerooms and archaeological labs packed to the hilt with items from the daily life of Pompeii: plumbing fittings, pottery, paint pots, foodstuff and fishing nets. As she pieces it all together, Mary presents a film that is a celebratory and unique view of life in this extraordinary town.

Thursday 3 March
9.00pm-10.00pm
BBC ONE