TV presenter and eminent historian David Olusoga helped to get Bangor's very first history festival underway.

The well known broadcaster and film-maker mingled with fans and VIPs at a reception at Pontio to launch Bangor University's Four Nations History Festival on Friday morning.

The Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester, was the festival's very first key note speaker, with a talk on 'Slavery, Empire and Historical Amnesia.'

Other key speakers include David Starkey, talking on Henry VIII and Lucy Worsley on Queen Victoria. Her talk is complemented by an exhibition of Queen Victoria’s clothes at the Storiel Museum in Bangor.

Prof Olusoga said he was "delighted"to be at Bangor University to talk about "what we remember and don't remember, of British history."

He said: "Particularly empire, slavery and our colonial amnesia. It is wonderful to be here in Wales to talk about these histories, that we often struggled to talk about."

The University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Iwan Davies welcomed the history festival as an opportunity to show the breadth of research and focus Welsh culture at Bangor University.

The Mayor of Bangor Cllr John Wyn Williams said: "We are pleased to welcome this history festival to Bangor, which is itself, a very historic place.

"We look forward to this becoming a an annual event, and it will help put Bangor on the map."

Led by the university’s School of History the festival explores the ‘shared yet distinct’ histories of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

A programme of speakers has been arranged throughout Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26, at Pontio. There are also related events at venues including Storiel Museum and Bangor Cathedral.

Other notable speakers include author John Keay, speaking on Everest: The Welshman for Whom the Mountain was Named.

Broadcaster Trevor Fishlock is speaking on the The Power of Duty: War and Peace and the Davies sisters of Wales.

The Marquess of Anglesey and Peter Crosby, are talking about the The 1st Marquess of Anglesey at Waterloo and the Building of the Commemorative Column and By Royal Appointment: The Jews of North Wales is a talk by Nathan Abrams.

For full programme and details see: http://fournations.bangor.ac.uk/