In this series, Alice Loxton and Dan Snow head to Stratford-upon-Avon to uncover the secrets of William Shakespeare’s early life and upbringing. Who were Shakespeare’s parents? What was rural Warwickshire like in the 16th century, and how was it changing? What sort of childhood did William have?

To get to the bottom of these questions, Alice and Dan visit the gems of historic Warwickshire - a monumental medieval tithe barn, the village which Shakespeare’s father spent his childhood, and even the room where William the playwright was born.