What's the most expensive drama ever made

A.� The most expensive drama ever made is thought to be the Steven Spielberg epic Band of Brothers. It is an all-American tale of bravery and tragedy - with a budget of �80 million. It follows the members of an elite section of the 101st airborne divisionof the US army fighting in German-occupied Europe. East Company, described in publicity material as '"true American heroes", was parachuted into France on D-Day, fought in the battle of the Bulge and captured Eagle's Nest, Hitler's mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden in Bavaria.� Hollywood film star Tom Hanks has a small part as a British parachutist and worked as executive producer with Spielberg.

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Q.� Where was the drama shot

A.� It was shot almost entirely in Britain with a mainly british cast after negotiations with Prime Minister Tony Blair. His son Euan was reported to have got a job as a runner on the set.

Much of the series was shot at a disused aerodrome in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, where sets for Spielberg's previous war film, Saving Private Ryan, were built. Around 10,000 extras were used during the shooting, which ended in November last year.

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Q.� When will it be shown on television

A.� A row has erupted over the 12-part series in the UK. The BBC1 Controller Lorraine Heggessey has judged the series "too niche", and it will be shown on BBC2 instead. Band of Brothers was originally bought for the BBC by her predecessor, Peter Salmon, for around �7 million. But instead of a prime-time BBC1 showing, it will get its peak-time airing on BBC2, with a late-night repeat on the main channel.

The series has been criticised in some quarters for glorifying the role of US servicemen in the Second World War. BBC1 says that this has nothing to do with its decision, but an uninterrupted 12-week slot could not be guaranteed on BBC1 because of sporting events. BBC2 also has a track record for showing big-budget war and history dramas sich as In the Land of Plenty and Perfect Stranger.

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Q.� What else could �80 million have been spent on

A.� Instead of the �80 million series, viewers could have got an extra eight� and a half years of EastEnders or seven and a half years of Big Brother. 468 episodes of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire could have been made and 80 hours of Pride and Prejudice could have been shot.

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By Katharine MacColl