The one-off documentary will explore the first day of one of the bloodiest battles in human history, telling the story of five ordinary men through dramatic recreations, written accounts, expert interviews and archive footage.

Sir Tony Robinson (Time Team, Blackadder) will visit key towns, buildings, places and battlegrounds to meet the families of people who were caught up in epic conflict.

The five men were from the Sheffield City battalion which was one of the famed ‘Pals’ battalions of the British army. They enlisted to serve alongside their friends, family and neighbours.

One of the five went on to become the oldest surviving member of the battalion, living through the whole war and later publishing his memoirs.

Discovery’s Graham Lafferty said that The Somme: The First 24 Hours with Tony Robinson “provides a very personal and intimate view of the horrors of war, focusing on the stories of ordinary men who went into battle for their country.”

The Somme: The First 24 Hours with Tony Robinson will be broadcast in the UK and Ireland in summer 2016.