Nat Geo UK premieres Colosseum: Rise and Fall this Sunday at 8pm, opening its six-part run with new findings on how the Roman arena helped shape the empire’s expansion.
Episode 1, titled Origins, digs into early design breakthroughs that allowed the Colosseum to function as both a political tool and a show of strength. Using recent discoveries from Rome and satellite sites across Europe and North Africa, the series anchors its claims in physical evidence, not just legacy myth.
The format is documentary but data-led. Nat Geo is positioning this as a fresh look at a well-trodden story, aimed at viewers looking beyond spectacle. The premiere arrives as the channel continues to rebalance its schedule toward deep-dive history, science-backed storytelling, and co-viewing adult content with international relevance.
Colosseum: Rise and Fall airs Sundays at 8pm on Nat Geo UK.
