PREMIERES THURSDAY 23 JULY 8PM
We all think we know the story of Pompeii, but did you know that some people survived? In Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston, Tom becomes our guide between past and present, uncovering the real stories of the people who lived through one of history's most famous disasters. This is the story we don’t know.
EPISODE 1: TREMORS
Tom Hiddleston begins his investigation by challenging the familiar idea that Pompeii was destroyed without warning. By examining the city’s physical remains and early geological signs from Mount Vesuvius, he establishes that the eruption unfolded over 24 hours, creating a limited but possible window of escape. A countdown clock begins, tracking how much time people have to get out. Searching for potential survivors of the eruption, Tom looks for clues in the city’s graffiti and inscriptions. He follows one name, Avianius, a teenage boy living in Pompeii, as earthquakes begin to disrupt daily life. Tom then follows a second trail of evidence to Julia Felix, a wealthy businesswoman whose estate shows signs of an organised evacuation. With the help of leading experts, Tom begins to uncover what that final day might have looked like for these real Romans and asks whether recognising the danger early was key to survival as Vesuvius erupts in the background.
EPISODE 2: ERUPTION
As the eruption begins, Tom investigates whether escape is still possible as volcanic material begins to fall and daylight turns to darkness, eclipsed by the growing eruption column. Turning to ancient eyewitness accounts, he examines letters suggesting that the Roman imperial fleet was active in the Bay of Naples during the eruption. Tom follows this lead to test whether a naval rescue could have reached the people trapped beneath Vesuvius. The investigation takes Tom beyond Pompeii to the coastal town of Herculaneum, where excavation evidence reveals hundreds of people gathered on the shoreline, apparently waiting for help. Among them is a Roman soldier, identified through the objects found with his remains and thought to be a possible member of the Praetorian Guard. Tom explores and imagines what this soldier’s presence might reveal about the fleet's movement, the realistic possibility of a rescue mission, and bravery in times of desperation. The eruption then enters its deadliest phase: pyroclastic surges that sweep through Herculaneum, overwhelming its people.
EPISODE 3: SURVIVAL
Tom follows the final stages of the eruption as conditions inside Pompeii have rapidly worsened. Ash and pumice continue to fall, roofs collapse under the weight, and the city becomes increasingly difficult to navigate when the streets fill with volcanic debris. In these final, critical moments, Tom continues to search for possible survivors. Using inscriptions and excavation records, he uncovers new evidence relating to Avianius. A gravestone discovered outside Pompeii reveals that Avianius survived the eruption, providing rare proof that survival was possible. The investigation then turns back to Julia Felix. Excavation records show that a richly adorned woman was found within the estate, close to a domestic shrine. Tom examines the evidence and considers what this might suggest about Julia’s fate and the sacrifices made. As the eruption reaches its final phase, pyroclastic surges overwhelm Pompeii, sealing the city beneath ash, leaving Tom to reflect on what survival really meant and why these stories still matter today.
GALLERY
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