British inventions and engineering created much of our modern lives. From the first trains to cars, jet engines to battlefield innovations, even the lawnmower and petrol pumps called "fat ladies" - it's all investigated by enthusiast and TV icon Chris Barrie in Britain's Greatest Machines with Chris Barrie.

Series One

In the 1930's “The Road to War,” Chris Barrie drives an A4 Gresley, the world's fastest steam locomotive, and takes a flight in a Dragon Rapide, one of the first airliners. He drives a Sentinel steam lorry and finds out how the Supermarine S6-B plane laid the groundwork for Britain's war-winning Spitfire aircraft.

In the 1950's “A New World Order,” Chris takes a Routemaster bus down to his local skidpan and fires up a Vulcan bomber. He takes the controls of a Deltic Diesel locomotive and visits the Lovell Telescope, which became embroiled in the Cold War before taking to the original "Jungle" Test Track in a Land Rover.

In the 1960's “Revolution by Design,” Chris discovers how the spirit of the swinging sixties was embraced by British engineers, leading to the Mini Cooper and new hovercraft. He investigates the secrets of the iconic Post Office Tower and organises his own Miss World competition - for beautiful Sixties sports cars.

In the 1980's “The Future Has Landed,” Chris tests out high-speed racing cars in this exploration of 1980s engineering, as British designers got to grips with exciting new technology. He takes a ride in a "Back to the Future" DeLorean DMC and revisits the battles of the Falklands War.

Series Two

In the “1910's Triumph and Tragedy,” Chris demonstrates the equipment that saved 700 lives on Titanic. He investigates the machines that broke the deadly stalemate of trench warfare and he pays tribute to the Vickers Vimy, a war plane that achieved one of the greatest landmarks in aviation history, flying non-stop across the Atlantic.

In the “1920's The Engine Roaring Twenties,” Chris takes on the high speed banking at the world's first purpose-built racing circuit in a 1920's Bentley, races on a 1925 Brough Superior motorcycle and takes to the air in a De Havilland Moth, which helped pioneer the commercial air routes we still use today.

In the “1940's War: The Mother of Invention,” Chris fights fires in the Blitz with the vehicles of the Auxiliary Fire Service, commands High Speed Launch 102 - the nation's first high speed rescue boat and charges through the English countryside at 60mph in the groundbreaking Daimler Dingo...in both forward and reverse!

In “Trains,” Chris explores the breakthrough in transportation, evolving in just ten years from foot and horse to the first passenger railway, forever changing British society. Chris takes a spin on the Trevithick Puffing Devil - the world's first high-pressure steam engine and climbs on to the footplate of some of the earliest and most famous trains in the world.

• 4 discs; 376 minutes
• © 2010