Stonehenge: Secrets of the New Stone

Channel 5 will air Stonehenge: Secrets of the New Stone on Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 9pm. The one-hour programme, presented by Tudor historian Tracy Borman and actor Jason Watkins, focuses on the six-tonne Altar Stone, the only deliberately recumbent megalith at the centre of the monument and whose geological source has been revealed to be in Scotland.

Borman, chief historian at Historic Royal Palaces and author of numerous Tudor works, approaches the Neolithic material as a non-specialist. She describes herself as “out of her depth” and notes the contrast with her usual period: “The 5,000-year-old stone circle makes the Tower of London look like a new-build.” Watkins, best known for dramatic roles, joins her as co-presenter.

The documentary follows their investigation, including laboratory visits with Professor Richard Bevins at Aberystwyth University, practical trials recreating possible megalith transport techniques at the Ancient Technology Centre in Dorset, and a trip to Skara Brae in Orkney. Borman reflects on encountering evidence of long-distance connections and sophisticated Neolithic communities for the first time as a Tudor specialist.

The programme is produced by Lion Television and will be available internationally as Stonehenge: The Final Mystery Revealed.