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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

The criticism Marc Fennell always gets for Stuff the British Stole

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Host Marc Fennell is critical of how artifacts ended up in British collections.
  • Fennell recounts a pivotal moment interviewing historian Alice Procter about stolen objects.
  • The TV show "Stuff the British Stole" is based on Fennell's podcast exploring these contested artifacts.

Marc Fennell, host of the popular TV show "Stuff the British Stole," is candid about the criticism he faces for his work exploring how artifacts ended up in British collections. Fennell, a Walkley Award-winning presenter, has produced three seasons of the show and is releasing a book on the same topic.

Yeah, but did we really steal that much stuff, though? Like, is it really that bad?

— British broadcast platform representativeFennell recounts a dismissive reaction from a British broadcaster when pitching his idea about stolen artifacts.

He admits that the show has significantly impacted his life, but he questions how long he can continue making it due to its demanding nature. Fennell shared that the idea for the show originated from a trip to London in 2019, where he planned to attend an award nomination for a previous podcast.

Are there many things in museums that are stolen?

— Marc FennellFennell's initial question to historian Alice Procter that led to the concept of his show.

During his visit, Fennell met historian Alice Procter, known for her "rogue tours" of museums. He recalled a dismissive reaction from a British broadcaster who questioned the extent of British artifact acquisition. This encounter, coupled with Procter's detailed list of stolen objects and a specific visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum, solidified the concept for his show. A particular artifact, a wooden tiger mauling a British soldier, became the focus of the first episode, representing a crucial turning point for the project.

What time is your flight? You need to go to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

— Alice ProcterProcter's urgent instruction to Fennell after listing numerous stolen artifacts.
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Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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