HISTORY still walked on despite the rainy weather when presenter Tony Robinson and his television team visited the Nothe Fort.

Mr Robinson, who was filming for a new Channel 4 series, provisionally called Walking through History, came to Weymouth yesterday morning.

He and the crew from Wildfire Television were at the fort to discover its involvement in the Second World War and preparations for D-Day.

During his visit, Mr Robinson met Nothe volunteer Rod Weyland, who is affectionately nicknamed Baldrick for his similarities to Mr Robinson’s Blackadder character, known for his catchphrase, ‘I have a cunning plan’.

Mr Robinson said: “On Sunday we were in Swanage and it was the best weather all year and I was thinking ‘this programme will be an absolute doddle to film’.

“Then Monday came and it was the worst weather ever. The idea is that we go on substantial walks. The one we are filming now is the best part of 60 miles, and we tell an historic story.”

The Nothe Fort did not see action against an enemy until the Second World War when Weymouth harbour was used as a base for the British and American Navies.

The Dorset coast walk is the first in the four-part series to be filmed.

It’s a rugged coastal walk which explores the reaction to the fall of France in 1940 and construction of the defences against invasion.

It will then chart the local history as the tide of war turned against the Nazis, before finishing with the preparations for D-Day.

Mr Robinson added: “I love Dorset. Like so many children of my generation, most of my holidays were spent here. It’s funny how I hadn’t been to the area for years and now I keep coming back.”

Mr Robinson said he was looking forward to the Olympics and was pleased how it meant regeneration for host areas like Weymouth and Portland.

He said: “I’m an East End boy and, like in all the host areas, it’s so nice to see the new buildings, new roads, and new projects taking shape because of it. I have really been niggled by the negative attitude that so many people adopted, even on the day we got the Olympics.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The worst that can happen is that we do okay out of it for the next few years.”

The next stop yesterday afternoon for the Wildfire Television team was Portland. Mr Robinson said he was looking forward to the coastal views despite the bad weather.