Blood of the Vikings

Production

Julian Richards, a longtime admirer of Viking history, hosted the program. A 15-month genetic study led by University College London’s Professor David Goldstein analyzed mouth swabs from 2,500 men across 25 British locations, comparing them to DNA from Scandinavian locals. The goal was to measure Viking genetic influence in the UK and trace settlement patterns, since historical and archaeological records alone couldn’t reveal how many raiders remained.

BBC Two Controller Jane Root called the collaboration with UCL a one-of-a-kind national effort. The findings confirmed that Vikings settled in Britain for extended periods, not just raiding and leaving, and left genetic traces in certain regions. Strong Norwegian heritage appeared in parts of Cumbria near Penrith, the Shetland and Orkney Islands, and northern mainland Scotland. The study also yielded unexpected insights about Celtic and Anglo-Saxon ancestry.

Men tested in mainland Scotland showed a Celtic genetic percentage similar to that of southern England, suggesting Celtic heritage endured among southern English men after Anglo-Saxon arrival and that Scots were not overwhelmingly Celtic. To illustrate modern stereotypes about Vikings, the series featured clips from Richard Fleischer’s 1958 film The Vikings, starring Kirk Douglas.