Building the Channel Tunnel
Synopsis
The Channel Tunnel linking Britain with France is one of the seven wonders of the modern world but what did it take to build the longest undersea tunnel ever constructed? We hear from the men and women, who built this engineering marvel. Massive tunnel boring machines gnawed their way through rock and chalk, digging not one tunnel but three; two rail tunnels and a service tunnel. This was a project that would be privately financed; not a penny of public money would be spent on the tunnel. Business would have to put up all the money and take all the risks. This was also a project that was blighted by flood, fire, tragic loss of life and financial bust ups. Today, it stands as an engineering triumph and a testament to what can be achieved when two nations, Britain and France put aside their historic differences and work together.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Julian Barratt
Narrator (voice)
Colin Saxby
Himself
Graham Anderson
Himself
Kevin Milne
Himself
Christian Wolmar
Himself
James Sherwood
Himself
Tim Dunn
Himself
Philippe Vandebrouck
Himself
Graham Fagg
Himself
John Gallagher
Himself
Sarah Chapman
Herself
Ed Bartholomew
Himself
Mark Hudson
Himself
Helen Nattrass
Herself
Alan Cottiss
Himself
John Wildgoose
Himself
Paul Holt
Himself
John Prescott
Himself
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Edward McGown
- Original Title
- Building the Channel Tunnel
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- German, English, French
- Runtime
- 45m
- Production Studios
- Windfall Films, Channel 5 Broadcasting, National Geographic
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Edward McGown
Tom Keegan
Edward McGown, Fred Hepburn, Carlo Massarella
Department Leadership Roster
Tom Keegan
Editor
Edward McGown
Director
Edward McGown
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Building the Channel Tunnel.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Building the Channel Tunnel.
list16
Produced by National Geographic
Similar Titles to Building the Channel Tunnel
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.2Anime
8.0
6.0
10.0
7.5
10.0
8.0
More Like Building the Channel Tunnel
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Building the Channel Tunnel
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Building the Channel Tunnel about?
The Channel Tunnel linking Britain with France is one of the seven wonders of the modern world but what did it take to build the longest undersea tunnel ever constructed? We hear from the men and women, who built this engineering marvel. Massive tunnel boring machines gnawed their way through rock and chalk, digging not one tunnel but three; two rail tunnels and a service tunnel. This was a project that would be privately financed; not a penny of public money would be spent on the tunnel. Business would have to put up all the money and take all the risks. This was also a project that was blighted by flood, fire, tragic loss of life and financial bust ups. Today, it stands as an engineering triumph and a testament to what can be achieved when two nations, Britain and France put aside their historic differences and work together.
Who directed Building the Channel Tunnel?
Building the Channel Tunnel was directed by Edward McGown.
Who stars in Building the Channel Tunnel?
The principal cast of Building the Channel Tunnel includes Julian Barratt, Colin Saxby, Graham Anderson, Kevin Milne, Christian Wolmar.
When was Building the Channel Tunnel released and how long is it?
Building the Channel Tunnel was released in 2019 with a total runtime of 45m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Building the Channel Tunnel?
Building the Channel Tunnel holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.).