On 16 September 1620, 400 years ago, a merchant ship called the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, on a voyage to America. Its passengers sought a new life, for some this meant religious freedom and for some a fresh start in a new land. They would go on to be known as Pilgrims, and influenced the United States of America in a myriad of ways.

To commemorate this landmark anniversary this documentary takes an honest and inclusive look at the consequences of the Mayflower journey. For people in Europe, for the people on the ship and for the people in North America when they arrived. This is a story of colonisation, settlement and oppression. But also of humanity, migration, heroism and a thirst for freedom. This is the story of one of the most important journeys in history.

Featuring Dan Snow, Steven Peters, Anna Scott, James Evans, Jo Loosemore, Sarah Churchwell, Dr Kathryn Gray, Father Mark Nicholls, Paula Peters, Dr Stephanie Pratt, Adrian Vinken and Linda Combes.