Michael Portillo embarks on a thrilling new railway adventure following the Silk Road through the most populous country of Central Asia, Uzbekistan. \n\nAt the meeting point of east and west, this region has been home to some of the world’s greatest empires: ruled by the Mongols, the ferocious conqueror Tamerlane, imperial Russia and the Soviet Union.\n\nMichael begins in the capital, Tashkent, where he takes in its vast, vibrant market and samples popular Uzbek delicacies. He travels on the lavishly decorated Soviet-era metro, which was hidden from the outside world until 2018, when a ban on photographing it was lifted. Michael hears how an earthquake resulted in Tashkent becoming the capital of Soviet modernist architecture, and he makes his TikTok debut with a globally famous Uzbek social media star.
Source: BBC 2
Series 1: 2. Tashkent To Samarkand
Michael Portillo continues his railway tour through Uzbekistan on Tashkent’s suburban electric railway to one of the most spectacular and secretive pieces of Soviet Cold W ...
24-06-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: 1. Tashkent
Michael Portillo embarks on a thrilling new railway adventure following the Silk Road through the most populous country of Central Asia, Uzbekistan. \n\nAt the meeting point of ...
17-06-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: 5. Bukhara To The Kyzylkum Desert
Michael Portillo’s railway adventure through Uzbekistan reaches its finale in the historic city of Bukhara. Amidst the medieval Islamic architecture, Michael goes in searc ...
18-05-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: 4. Samarkand To Bukhara
Michael Portillo’s railway tour through Uzbekistan continues in the lush oasis surrounding the historic city of Samarkand. Here, he uncovers the Central Asian origins of t ...
15-05-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: 3. Samarkand
Michael Portillo’s railway adventure in Uzbekistan continues in Samarkand, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia.\n\nMichael discovers the national passion for bread, w ...
14-05-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: 1. Tashkent
Michael Portillo embarks on a thrilling new railway adventure following the Silk Road through the most populous country of Central Asia, Uzbekistan. \n\nAt the meeting point of ...
17-06-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: 3. Samarkand
Michael Portillo’s railway adventure in Uzbekistan continues in Samarkand, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia.\n\nMichael discovers the national passion for bread, w ...
14-05-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: 2. Tashkent To Samarkand
Michael Portillo continues his railway tour through Uzbekistan on Tashkent’s suburban electric railway to one of the most spectacular and secretive pieces of Soviet Cold W ...
24-06-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: 4. Samarkand To Bukhara
Michael Portillo’s railway tour through Uzbekistan continues in the lush oasis surrounding the historic city of Samarkand. Here, he uncovers the Central Asian origins of t ...
15-05-2026
BBC 2
Series 1: 5. Bukhara To The Kyzylkum Desert
Michael Portillo’s railway adventure through Uzbekistan reaches its finale in the historic city of Bukhara. Amidst the medieval Islamic architecture, Michael goes in searc ...
18-05-2026
BBC 2