France Télévisions returns to Raiders of the Lost Pharaohs

France Télévisions has recommissioned Pernel Media’s landmark specialist factual docuseries Raiders of the Lost Pharaohs for a second run, Broadcast International can reveal. 

The history title blends dramatic reconstruction with archaeological investigation to explore the iconic sites of Egypt: Saqqara, Amarna, Deir el-Bahari, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Giza and Abydos.  

Series two will look at some of history’s greatest pioneers in Egyptology, including Gaston Maspero, Flinders Petrie, Howard Carter, Amelia Edwards and Ludwig Borchardt, as they strived to uncover the African country’s greatest secrets against a backdrop of colonial rivalry, nationalist uprising, and the shadow of the First World War.  

The six feature-length episodes will each focus on a landmark discovery and a legendary pharaoh, including Ramesses II, Nefertiti, Hatshepsut, and the 12-year obsession that ended on 4 November 1922, when Carter opened the tomb of Tutankhamun. 

France TV’s commission comes ahead of the rebooted SunnySide of the Doc in La Rochelle and follows the success of series one, which averaged 1m viewers per episode and drew extensive non-linear audiences on streamer france.tv.  

Besides the French PSB, the first run of Paris and London-based Pernel Media’s show was produced for History UK, TV5 Québec and ZDFinfo. 

Raiders of the Lost Pharaohs S2 is slated for delivery in 2027 and is produced by Fabrice Frank. Directors are Sigrid Clément and Sandrine Del Sol, who both helmed S1, and Marie-Laurence Rincé (Alexander the Great, Conqueror of Legend). France TV Distribution handles international sales. 

Caroline Béhar, head of international co-productions and acquisitions at France Télévisions, said: “Approaching ancient Egypt through the eyes of its earliest explorers transforms the genre – delivering an immersive, cinematic experience that drove significant success for France Télévisions across both linear and digital.” 

Fabrice Frank added: “Egypt’s archaeological history is one of the greatest adventure stories ever told, epic in scale, rigorous in its history, and genuinely cinematic. We are delighted to continue building this landmark series with France Télévisions and France TV Distribution.”