NAKED SHORE: OF THE NORTH SEA

Steel-grey, formidable, theatre of war, cultural crossing-point - the North Sea has forged villains and heroes, and determined the fates of nations. It's not all grim, though: the seaside holiday was born on North Sea beaches, and artists, poets and writers have been as inspired by glinting sunlight on the wave-tops as they have by winter storms. With a wry eye and a warm coat, Tom Blass meets fishermen, artists, bomb disposal experts, burgermeisters and more, and attempts to piece together the North Sea’s manifold histories.