Time Team’s Matt Williams: Where Is He Now?
Four years on from the last new episode of Time Team, I thought it was time to check in with my old cast and crew colleagues and see what they’ve been getting up to…
For those of us who perpetually watch Time Team repeats on Dave and More4, it may not feel like the show ever went away, but four years is a long time. I missed them! And, I wanted the gossip about what they’re doing now, of course. Who better to kick off our interview series with than the cheeky Matt Williams.
Matt has been an archaeologist since the late 90s. He completed his undergraduate and Master’s degrees at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London before embarking on a career in commercial archaeology. He worked for several commercial units including Oxford Archaeology and MoLAS (as was), until he started a career at L-P Archaeology.
In 2003, Matt was recruited as an archaeologist and presenter on Time Team. His sharp, charming wit and fresh-faced boyish looks made him the prime target for the historical re-enactment spots on the show. Matt has dressed up and lived the life of a Roman soldier, Medieval lay-brother and even home-guard infantry, to name a few. But my personal favourite was when he was my Roman slave for an afternoon – just don’t EVER get him to comb your hair though… OUCH!!
Matt now co-presents ‘Digging for Britain’ with Alice Roberts, and the new series will be starting in 2016 on BBC Four. Now, onto the questions!
What did you do immediately after leaving Time Team?
I carried on with my job of commercial archaeology, which I had also continued between TT shoots and between each series. This involves helping people get planning permission and organising excavations if there are archaeological remains on development sites.
What are you doing now?
Still doing it! Although a couple of years ago I started co-presenting ‘Digging for Britain’ with Alice Roberts. This involves several days filming in museums around the country and then a few days in a studio interviewing archaeologists.
If working on Time Team taught you any life lessons, what was it?
Sometimes ridiculously, incredibly, unbelievably hard work can be fun! I also know the Marriott Hotel room service menu off by heart.
What was your best Time Team memory?
Spending two days drunk when living the life of a navvy at Rise Hill. All in the name of experimental archaeology!
And your worst?!
The worst hangover in the world after spending two days drunk when living the life of a navvy at Rise Hill.
There were a lot of pranks played on cast members. What’s your most favourite, salacious or ridiculous memory of these?
I know a lot of of the team would say this, but it has to be when Jimmy Adcock and Kerry Ely made a fake magnetometer out of cardboard and then got Ian to drive over it in his machine when John Gater was watching. The amount of effort and planning that went into the whole event was incredible.
A lot of field archaeologists HATE being asked ‘what’s the best thing you’ve ever found?’ But…. let’s go ahead and try to answer it anyway! Matt Williams, what’s the best thing you’ve ever found?
This one’s easy… it’s the Ogham inscribed stone I found on the Isle of Man. Most Ogham is carefully inscribed on standing stones and records important people, but the bit I found was almost like a note scrawled on a fragment of rock and seemed to record a group of people arriving in a boat, which is extremely rare. I remember Helen Geake coming up to me and saying something like: ‘That’s it Matt, that’s the find of your life. The chance of you finding anything as archaeologically important as that ever again is basically zero.’
Now it’s time to talk about the white elephant in the room. Did you know that at least five people a week find the DigVentures website by googling ‘Matt Williams and Raksha Dave married’. How do you feel about that?
Well I don’t think the DigVentures website gives the answer, so it’s just going to have to remain a Time Team mystery…. I like to think of us as the Scott and Charlene of the archaeology world.
When you’re not doing archaeology, what do you like doing?
I live in Shropshire, and there’s nothing I love more than pulling on my boots and dragging the family out for a good long walk. There’s loads of amazing places to visit such as Oswestry Hill fort, the Stiper Stones, Wenlock Priory… hmm, does that still count as archaeology?
And what’s been your favourite archaeology TV show since Time Team?
Digging for Britain, of course!
What do you think is the most recent promising or exciting discovery or development in archaeology?
We saw some amazing underwater archaeology on Digging for Britain, which really demonstrated how our ability to excavate and record underwater sites has improved in recent years. There must be thousands of waterlogged prehistoric sites in the North Sea (dating from when the sea level was much lower) and finding and recording just one site would be amazing.
What’s your next big archaeological ambition?
I’d love to see some real-time archaeological excavation back on TV, and hopefully be involved in some way!
And finally… which famous actor would you cast in the lead role of Matt Williams – the movie?
I’d get the The Goonies cast back together for that.
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Written by Raksha Dave
A long-time member of Channel 4's Time Team, Raksha Dave is one of the country's best loved archaeologists. Unequivocally, she has never, and will never, be married to Matt Williams.
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Comments (47)
Having been an avid TT watcher in the past (which encouraged me to do some volunteering on a number of digs) I found Dig Ventures and have enjoyed reading about your archaeological explorations. Seeing you, Raksha, on here made me wonder what the rest of the TT members were doing now so I think this is a great idea. I met Mick at his book signing for Mick’s Archaeology – so sad that he’s no longer with us but I think he’d be very happy with Dig Ventures and similar continuing to bring the exploration of archaeology within the reach of the ordinary person. He was great to talk to. Hope Dig Ventures continues to grow 🙂
Good to see some of the old team again.
Wonderful. Thank you to Raksha and to Matt for organising this. Hope there are many more to come in the series of “Where are they now ?”.
Ironically, I had never thought of or imagined that Raksha and Matt might be married (though they’d have made a cute couple and undoubtedly produced lovely offspring) but that mention in the interview above (w/o a note that they are not) made me Google the phrase ‘Matt Williams and Raksha Dave married’ thereby adding to that false statistic.
So glad I found this, but no I did not Google Raksha/Matt married! Time Team still airs in Canada and I watch every week, even when it’s one I’ve seen before. I hope ‘Digging For Britain’ finds its way over here too. I know Alice Roberts from another favourite show, ‘Coast’.
Nice to know what some of the Team are up to these days. I watch Tony Robinson on ‘Walking Through History’ and I was truly saddened to read that Mick had passed away. Do you ever run into Phil or Helen? It would be great to see them on tv again sometime.
“Digging for Britain” currently airs in Canada on TVO, (TV Ontario), Saturdays at 8pm Eastern.
So good to read this, just as I was googling Matt after watching Digging for Britain to discover why I knew his face so well!! I think Alice should dress him up and make him do daft stuff – it’s what that baby face was made for! I miss you and the Time Team team Raksha, your cheery face beaming up out of some hole Phil had decided must hold all the treasures and usually held nothing – you were always optimistic! 😊 Hope to see you on our screens again one day, Time Team was a legend and I have no clue why it isn’t still being made! Except of course Tony must have eventually tired of being the devils advocate – great telly though and sorely missed! I always thought it would be better without the daft “we’ve got to dig all this in three days” angle, but that’s TV for you 😊
Please please bring a new series of time team back,with the old crew mixed with young crew.Especialy Phil Harding Mat and Alice Robins,and obviously The great Tony Robinson.Im a cab driver and the people who rate time team as there favourite program enormous. I guarantee it would be a great success
Love it.
Fabulous show and a real adventure watching the results of the digs, new trenches etc. Wonderful cast of regulars headed by the ever brilliant Sir Tony. I have always been interested in history and Time Team opened up a whole new world of learning and fun.
It is criminal not one TV Org saw the pleasure TT brought to millions world wide in a programme so unique. But of course the rubbish as in the absurd realty shows are cheaper to make and cater for those who prefer ‘unreal’ nonsense.
Cheers Phil, your hometown pub sounds wonderful, being from the other side of the world, doubt I will get the chance to imbibe there.
Sad to hear of Mick and Robins deaths, lovely guys and so interesting RIP.
Maybe one day a channel will see sense and b ring the team together again, if only for a few specials.
Thanks for the wonderful viewing
Yes Time team was brilliant and we need it back please please.
Watching digging for britain. Where is Matt?
It surprises me that people don’t know what the folk of Time Team are up to. I know some of them are continuing to work with the programs producer the last 4 years on another project called Time Team’s Dig Village in Dunster
Still an avid viewer of T.T. Was stunned when i heard of Prof. Mick Astons passing, and missed the tribute to him. Its a pity it ended the way it did, With Mick not liking the “dumbing down” as he called it of the programme, You have to move forward, the show needed a shot in the arm, but agree with Mick, “Do we need eye candy” on the show to bring in viewers?…TB
I enjoyed that Raksha. So when do we get the up-to-date low-down on you?
I miss time team it’s like having a group of friends in university or all serving in the armed forces and you all split up and go your own way in the big wide world and you know you are never going to have those salad days again but will always look back with nostalgia and maybe she’d a tear for those that fell by the wayside.
Teresa, I live in the US. I can not get channel 4. I love anything archaeology. Thanks to You Tube, I found Time Team. I am now watching season 20. I have already watched Time Team season 1-19 and all the specials. After s20-epi. 1, I suddenly started wondering about Matt Williams. I found this page. I agree with all the comments that Time Team with all cast members (tony, Phil, who I adore,Matt , Raksha) to name a few should reunite and bring back archaeology back to the TV. I miss Mick to. I am still waiting for the Time Team special that Tony had mentioned on a website page to honor Mick. Channel 4 should be ashamed for not honoring Mick. please bring Time Team back. Will start to watch Digging for Britain if carried on You Tube, and do a repeat of Time Team starting with season 1. Thank you Time Team.
I am watching a rerun of Time Team right now. It’s a fabulous programme and should never have been taken off the TV. I was interested to read what Mat is doing now and will be looking out for digging for Britain.
I’m watching more4 repeats of time team, always so enjoyable, love the banter and Tony’s asides, can’t for the life of me understand why this programme was let to implode.
It amazes me that Time Team was ever stopped when you consider how much important “real” archaeology and history of our beloved Great Britain
It’s sad that another television channel has not taken up the format of Time Team. Yes, even as I write, we continually watch the repeats and will do for as long as they are broadcast. I know it would be unlikely that the original team could be brought back, but …….if only ….if only
BRING BACK A TIME TEAM
Why not bring time team back but call it young time team, with matt has the lead man and the rest of the younger team following and phill doing mick astons job,and Tony still being the presenter.
I find it amazing that not enough tv people have the sense to realize what a gem this show is. I watch it faithfully here in the US. Miss Tony and Phil. What is wrong with you Brits. It’s the best thing in your tv history. Bring it back please!
Watched TT avidly on TVO in Canada, , loved every minute , bought DVDs of earlier episodes as TVO only ( only) showed the last 5 or 6’years .. I wonder how many people ended up taking up archeology after getting the bug from Time Team.
I’d watch an equivalent show if it existed . I may have to wait for the digventures DVD
I have just discovered this web site and totally agree with everyone who wants a time team back again! I adored that programme and I watch all the repeats avidly. At 82 years of age I am a bit long in the tooth for digging myself, much as I would love to, but I relish every moment of those programmes. Mick Aston going was a very sad thing – he was a lovely man and kept the team together.
Please bring TT back! So much history out there waiting to be discovered and brought into our lounge rooms in the good old TT way. I agree with what Mick thought about “dumbing down” and “eye candy”, we don’t need it (or want it!). I am an Aussie in Australia, for some reason they’ve gone reality tv mad here and I can’t stand it, so I find myself watching TT DVDs over and over and over. We love TT, we need TT and we want it!
RIP Mick you were my favourite
My favourite tv show of all time, part of my ‘growing up’, it was like a bereavement when filming stopped and when Mick passed away not long after. The unique characters and enthusiasm of the presenters shone through on deeply interesting digs. The humour lightened up our living rooms on a sunday.
Celebrity relationship reality tv culture is more popular to kids now which is a real shame their knowledge going into decline.
A new live dig show would be extremely welcome though without Phil and Mick in particular it may not have the same gravitas as the original. They are irreplaceable.
I am watching repeat of time team now on free view. Always enjoyed it, sorry it stopped. RIP Mick.
From the very first episode of Time Team, I was hooked. It was successful on so many levels and was one of the few programmes that all my family watched. One only has to look at what Channel 4 is serving up nowadays to see how it has dumbed down. BRING BACK TIME TEAM!!!
As I write this, I have just finished watching another episode of Time Team. I have got my system set up to record any TT programs that come on. It was a very sad day when the bigwigs in charge decided that they knew what we wanted to watch better than we did. You really can’t compare the dross that is reality tv to a programme that opens your mind to explore history in such an informative and fun way. I still enjoy the humour and banter from all the cast , even when I have seen the programme many times. I would like to think that they will make more TT, but sadly I don’t think they will. Shame on you.
I read somewhere that Channel 4 dropped Time Team because the viewing audience had dropped below 1 Million, I doubt that is the truth. I suspect that some highly paid executive had his palms greased to drop the programme and show the crap that is being shown instead. So come on Channel 4 hold up your hands and find another hands on archaeological programme preferably with Tony, Phil, Raksha , and Matt amongst the participants plus some new blood. Mick Aston must be turning in his grave!
I have just discovered an old circular well 2 metres in diameter and 4.5 metres deep full of stagnant water in the back yard of my terraced house built 1897 under some flags and wonder what can be done about this. It is about 1.5 metres from my kitchen window. Some of the bottom bricks have corroded and I have had damp in my house for years – I have lived here for 37 years, the middle house in a row of 5.
I have also had two damp courses which have failed. I now have rats for the third time in three years in my kitchen and under my stairs cupboard under the floor boards and am at my wits end as who to contact and who can rectify this. I have had United Utilities to look at it but it is not their problem. Any help and advice would be appreciated.
Watching reruns of TT on TVOntario in Canada. Still one of my favourite shows. Phil, Raksha, Matt, Helen, and the rest of the old crew really made the show a special treat every week. I went through a rough period before I discovered TT. Something about the show helped me rewire my mind and brought me to a good place so I ‘ll always appreciate it for that. Please bring it back.
I still watch repeats of time team on yesterday channel. I love it. Would love to see other formats of the show made now
Hi Raksha… it’s so exciting to sort of contact you through this forum. I used to watch TT religiously over the years It was a fantastic show and found the concept worked with the variety of characters on the show. I used to look out for you a lot as I was, at the time, married to an Indian girl at the time, which unfortunately failed.
I was saddened by the passing of Mick; whose loud jumpers were always something to enjoy. I just ‘discovered’ ‘Digging For Britain’ and thought that looked like a mature Matt so I did some internet digging. Found this site through that.
I hope the team have all moved on and are equally successful. Good luck to you as well. May you be blessed with a fantastic future. Stay happy always. Gary
Now watching TT for the third time round on Acorn TV in the United States. it’s my favorite show of all time and that’s saying a lot considering I’m 61 years young.
id love to see timeteam 2 with matt,helen raksha and few other favorites archelogists not the likes of Mary-Ann Ochota and Alex Langlands .when time team added these 2 it went down the pan.and the digs where more of a focus on these 2.why did they think it would work.trying to look sexy just didnt cut it.
I love Time Team and I am now on my 4th I think rerun of the full series and I think that Mary-Ann Ochota and Alex Langlands turned people off. The real person who killed Time Team was Phillip Clark. He was the executive producer after all. He killed it by introducing Mary-Ann into a show that she literally destroyed with her Holier than Thou attitude. It really stuck out a mile everytime she spoke to Mick and other longtime members of Time Team she always seemed to talk down to them. Alex also had the wrong attitude and like Mary-Ann it showed although he tried to be apart of the Team he just couldn’t pull it off making excuses when he quite often failed. The rest of the team worked together as a TEAM. I must admit Tony should have tried more to stand up for his Team and not let Phillip destroy great TV. It’s now 2019 and the History channel is still rerunning the show.
Grew up with time team and still watching reruns. I wish time team could be reinstated. Not all of us want to watch mindless reality tv shows of vacuous, narcistic people.
A muddy hole and shovel and a history to be proud of with a great team would go down a treat!
Wish all time team people well 😀
The best program ever produced for television.
The banter between Phil Matt racksha mick tony. priceless.
I watch all repeats .
Thank you to everyone of the time team cast.
Mike Newport 🏴
John gater ever trying to please everyone
I was so pleased to see Matt presenting a program which included details of a dig in my parent’s home village, winterbourne kingston! I miss Time Team so badly but knowing the guys are OK made my day! Matt’s best and worst moments…fantastic!!🤣🤣🤣
Would love to see this format and yes, specifically the available and willing members of TT do something like the old show. There are zero streaming services I’d pay for at the moment, TT would be the first.
Watching the repeats, the main characters (yes, I know they are all actually professionals) are almost all interesting enough to take leads in such a show. So much better than the wholly scripted pablum that we’re treated to now.
I always felt that Tony was the catalyst for the whole show – he represented us, the inexperienced audience, asking the uneducated questions to the experts and summarising their responses in our language.
You thinking Britain’s been all dug up by now??
I watch time team on,” you tube”. So when the reruns are finished you can switch and get your fix.
During this strange time in our world it’s like a tonic for the soul watching old episodes of Time Team which I got from my local library. It makes you realise that many many years in the future there will be another variation of Time Team digging up the remains of this time and speculating on what we were like. It brings a sense of calm to watch them as they uncover our past. Loved the show years ago and still it brings great joy to see all the different characters interacting with each other. Love you TT
have to say, i was just watching tony robinson on a video where he was speaking about Mick after he had died. Tony got in a sort of throwaway comment about a few TT members who got up to some coupling in the hedges…” I had always thought that Raksha and Matt seemed romantically linked. Were they the two coupling in the hedges ? and if not, who ? im just kind of curious.
I became interested in the deep past from my rock collection and my father’s Indian arrowhead collection, but I discovered British archaeology from the Compton’s Pictured Encyclopedia which our parents bought when I was in the 5th grade. In that I first saw a dramatic photograph of Stonehenge, and was hooked. In college I did term papers on megalithic monuments and Stonehenge itself and in the reading learned about “the Beaker Folk,” and lots more. Then some 20 years ago I did a little volunteer work with Fairfax Co., VA archaeology through a friend who was a “digger.”
Then when searching for something to watch on TV I came across the PBS schedule where several hours were lined up of a show called Time Team. That was my first glimpse of Mick Aston, white hair blowing in the wind. Three of the names from the show were familiar to me from reading, Phil Harding, Stewart Ainsworth and Francis Pryor, whose face I recognized as well. Being able to see these people work was exciting, and of course the number of sites in the British Isles is astounding.
Now I’m an addict, so I’m so glad that some new shows are being produced. The new look is different, but archaeology still has the same appeal. I had read somewhere that Raksha had died, so I was so happy to find it was just some celebrity rumor. These articles are really interesting, and well written. Keep writing!