Sky One lights the torchpaper with an explosive new four-part documentary Mark William’s Big Bangs. The series traces the history of all things explosive – from humble beginnings in the ninth century with the Chinese alchemists to the present day.

During the season, Mark will learn about the history of explosives by creating some impressive blasts of his own. His chronological journey to track the development of the big bang takes him among other places to China, Denmark, Germany, Istanbul and Belgium. Each location is host to a recreation of an almighty bang demonstrating the big sparks of that time.

His exploration of the world of explosions leads Mark to create a firecracker from bamboo sticks, climb Mount Etna to find sulphur, build a musket and use a machine gun. Not to mention blowing up a huge building, the destruction of a Ford Escort by cannon, explosions to clear potential avalanches and the destruction of a railway line.

Gunpowder was first discovered when the Chinese Emperor accidentally stumbled across it during his search for the elixir of life. He failed in his mission to live for eternity but his surprise discovery did give the Chinese great power. Gunpowder took its time making its way to Europe – with medieval Europeans relying on their poor substitute, wildfire. This was used until 400 years after the initial discovery of gunpowder.

The fall of Constantinople in 1453, an almighty battle involving cannons, was the confirmation that gunpowder had changed the world. Gunpowder factories emerged across Europe and the first handguns were made. From here on, gunpowder and explosions changed the world from the age of industrialisation to wartime use and the emergence of the atomic bomb.

Read extracts from the director’s shoot diary here

Watch video clips here