A Shandy Bass ring pull. A Power Rangers detector. A ship burial hiding in plain sight. Series one ends exactly as it should.
Your host Katie is joined by Karl (Instagram: @thementaldetector) and Emma (Instagram: @emloveoldstuff) to rewatch Season 1, Episode 6 of the BAFTA-winning BBC comedy drama Detectorists, first aired on BBC4 on the 6th of November 2014.
The episode opens with the tale of Jeff Malzol, who detected below Beachy Head collecting thrown wedding rings until the wind caught his waterproof jacket and it acted only as enough of a parachute to make him contemplate his imminent demise. Andy finds a pound coin from this year at an implausible depth and decides he is done. Lance fills in the hole. Andy sells his detector.
From there: Tony spelling out the brutal truth about Maggie and the lottery win to Lance's face in the Crystal Enigma closing down sale. The open day at quarter to four with no visitors, Sheila at the face painting station, and Russell asking whether it is a fundraiser or a recruitment drive. Sophie protesting her innocence and learning she can call Lance a wanker right back. Andy giving Becky the gold coin and suggesting they melt it down for a ring, getting down on one knee, being reminded he will have to drive himself home because he cannot drive. Andy running to a different electrical shop and returning with a children's toy detector covered in Power Rangers stickers. Lance's reaction. The spare detector for Becky. The 1986 Shandy Bass ring pull. Pub, there's always tomorrow.
Then the camera descends underground through soil and coins to the Saxon ship burial and the helmet below, pulling back to reveal the green outline of a ship in the landscape with everyone walking away not knowing it is right there. The Sutton Hoo connection that has been running through the whole series. Series one is over.
Featuring Toby Jones as Lance, Mackenzie Crook as Andy, Rachel Stirling as Becky, and Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Sophie.
Find Emma at @emloveoldstuff on Instagram. Find Karl at @thementaldetector on Instagram.
For more metal detecting chat, interviews, and the history behind the finds, follow Katie and the Detecting History Podcast on Instagram and YouTube at @detectinghistorychannel, and listen on all major podcast platforms.
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