Lucy Worsley Investigates

Episode 2 uncovers how the war reverberated in Britain itself. At Portsmouth Royal Dockyard, Lucy investigates James Aitken’s shocking arson plot to cripple the Royal Navy. She traces Franklin’s secret mission to Paris to secure French support, while British spy Edward Bancroft fed intelligence back to London. Lucy explores Britain’s growing fears as France - and later Spain - joined the conflict and how Irish Volunteers forced Britain to lift trade restrictions between Ireland and America. Back in London, riots erupted and George III agonized over the possibility of losing the empire. By 1781, Britain’s campaign collapsed at Yorktown and two years later, Britain formally recognized American independence. Concluding her investigation at Grosvenor Square, the site of America’s first embassy in London, Lucy reflects on a revolution that created an independent America and reshaped Britain forever.

Lucy Worsley investigates the tensions and turning points that led to America’s declaration of independence from Britain in 1776. With access to expert insights and original evidence, Lucy asks whether this explosive split could have been avoided.