The Churchills - TV series on Winston and his more successful ancestor, the Duke of Marlborough

The Churchills - 4oD - Channel 4

Channel 4 is running a three part series - tonight was the second in the series - in which The historian David Starkey examines Winston Churchill and influence that his ancestor, John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough had upon Winston's determination to face up to Nazism and Hitler.

Starkey draws comparison between Marlborough, who successfully opposed Louis XIV's attempt to dominate and Catholise Europe and Winston's struggle against Germany.

In the years 1932 to 1938, Winston wrote a four volume biography of Marlborough and Starkey makes the point that during these years, the research carried out by Winston heavily influenced him against Nazism.

Interesting at the start of tonight's episode, Winston visits Munich to research the Battle of Blenheim (40 miles south) where Marlborough won a crushing victory (one of his many) against the French.

Winston met Putzi, who was as you know was an aristocratic supporter of Hitler.

Putzi actually arranged a meeting between Winston and Hitler but the Fuhrer did not turn up - the reason being that he considered Winston powerless and finished.