University of Lancashire dean to appear in new Disney+ documentary with Hollywood star Tom Hiddleston
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A University of Lancashire psychologist is bringing Pompeii’s final moments to life with the help of British actor Tom Hiddleston...
An associate dean at the University of Lancashire is set to appear in a brand new Disney+ documentary with Hollywood star Tom Hiddleston.
Known as Dr Survival, psychologist Dr Sarita Robinson’s research into how people respond in life-threatening emergencies has helped shed new light on one of history’s most famous disasters, the destruction of Pompeii, for a new TV show.
Dr Sarita Robinson, the Associate Dean of the School of Psychology and Humanities at the university, has applied her expertise in crisis psychology to examine how people may have thought, behaved and made decisions in the final hours before Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD.
Her expertise features in the new three-part National Geographic documentary, Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston, in which she joins the acclaimed actor as he explores the lives of those who experienced the eruption.
Dr Robinson said: “This series shows that in moments of crisis, human behaviour is complex and often unpredictable. By applying what we know about psychology, we can better understand the choices people made in Pompeii and what those decisions mean for how we prepare for disasters today.”
Drawing on her research into human behaviour during disasters and extreme situations, Dr Robinson has provided insights into the factors that influence decision-making under pressure, including why people delay evacuation, how individuals assess risk and the barriers that can prevent people from taking life-saving action.
Her work helps reveal the human stories behind the archaeological evidence, offering a psychologically grounded understanding of survival, loss and resilience in the face of catastrophe.
The lessons from her research continue to inform modern approaches to disaster preparedness and emergency response.
Through dramatised sequences, Golden Globe and Olivier-winning Tom brings to life real Pompeiians, including a teenage apprentice, a prominent businesswoman and a Praetorian Guard.
Dr Robinson’s research underpins these portrayals, helping the series explore how different individuals may have reacted as disaster unfolded around them.
Speaking about the show, ‘Loki’ and ‘The Night Manager’ star Tom said: "The ancient world has compelled my imagination and curiosity for as long as I can remember: I’ve been fascinated by it all my life.
“Classical Antiquity is the foundation and cornerstone of Western and European culture. To visit Pompeii is to feel the distance of the 2,000 years between now and then compress. The past becomes the present; the past feels so close. Tangible, honest and real. Our relationship with the past is alive — studying who we were in order to understand who we are. Pompeii is a gateway for that conversation.
“It’s a privilege to host this visually immersive and dynamic series. Pompeii is often remembered for how its story ended. But by looking closer, we can uncover the details of people’s lives, the choices they made, and the moments that came before the city was buried. To revisit the final hours of those ordinary people, caught in an extraordinary moment, and to help bring these remarkable human stories back into the light, is a genuine honor.”
Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston will premier on both Disney+ and National Geographic on Thursday, July 23.
Tom McDonald, EVP of Content at National Geographic said: “National Geographic has spent more than a century bringing the past to life through groundbreaking discoveries, exploration and world-class storytelling.
“Working with Tom and Kevin, alongside the team at Plimsoll led by showrunner Tom Barbor-Might, has been a process of inventing an entirely new genre of history programming — one which brings evidence and imagination together in a way which feels distinctive.”
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Pompeii: Out of Time is produced by Plimsoll Production. For Plimsoll, Tom Barbor-Might serves as showrunner and director; Jessica Ruston and Mark Ravenhill are writers with additional writing by Kevin R. Wright and Tom Barbor-Might; and Grant Mansfield, Kevin R. Wright, Helen Flint and Alan Eyres are executive producers.
For National Geographic, Carolyn Payne is the executive producer, Charlie Parsons is senior vice president of Development, Bengt Anderson is senior vice president of Unscripted Production, and Tom McDonald is executive vice president of National Geographic Content.