Urban Secrets

Alan Cumming sets out to explore the history of Bristol, starting with a grisly secret uncovered at the city's docks. The revelation leads him deeper into the city's past. He then meets Mercury Prize‑winning musician Roni Size as part of his journey.

The episode follows actor Alan Cumming as he takes a tour through Bristol’s past. Presented as a television programme rather than a drama, Cumming acts as the on‑screen guide, leading viewers around the city’s historic sites. The focus is on uncovering the stories that have shaped Bristol, offering a chance to see the place through his perspective. By framing the narrative as a personal journey, the show invites the audience to share in his discoveries. The journey begins at Bristol’s historic docks, where Cumming uncovers a rather grim secret linked to the waterfront’s past. This grisly revelation serves as the opening hook, hinting at the darker chapters of the city’s development. After delving into that unsettling piece of history, the programme shifts its attention toward a more contemporary cultural figure. The contrast between the dockside mystery and the modern creative scene sets the tone for the remainder of the episode. The contemporary figure Cumming meets is Roni Size, a Bristol‑born musician who has won the Mercury Prize. Their conversation explores how the city’s industrial legacy has fed into Size’s sound, linking past and present in a tangible way. By bringing together a historic revelation with a modern musical perspective, the episode creates a bridge between Bristol’s gritty origins and its vibrant cultural output. The meeting rounds off the programme, leaving viewers with both a darker and a more uplifting view of the city.