The Producers
Karl Taylor – Director and Principle Underwater Photographer
Karl is as an award winning photographer primarily known for stills and TV commercials work. He is commissioned by leading global companies for his precise attention to detail and his exquisite control of light.
"The Hunt for Lady Olive & The German Submarine" is his first feature length documentary and is derived from his other passion as a qualified technical diver and shipwreck hunter. Using specialist low light video cameras, Karl is able to reveal the hidden world of shipwrecks in great clarity at depths of up to 75m (250ft), the very limit of natural light levels in temperate seas.
David Harewood OBE – Narrator
David is a British actor and the current president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He is best known for his roles as CIA Counterterrorism Director David Estes in Homeland (2011–2012) and his highly acclaimed performance in ‘Blood Diamond’ alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.
David was appointed an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2023 for his services to drama and charity.
Making The Film
To successfully complete this project has been an absolute privilege and testament to the tenacity of the entire team.
My work in studio commercials and stills is far removed from the often eerie and ominous process of filming underwater shipwrecks, it’s a unique experience of exploration and discovery that is truly spellbinding.As a passionate wreck and technical diver, filming lost shipwrecks, far offshore, at depths of over 75m is as exciting as it gets and working with the right team is essential. There are of course risks and it’s the dive team and surface crew who are their to support each other if there is a problem.
On this project we were fortunate enough to discover and dive the location of the missing U-boat ‘UC-18’. Working with a group of dedicated professionals we were able to capture haunting underwater images and build the story that revealed the truth of this incredible naval battle. A battle that had been contested by historians for decades.
– Karl Taylor, Director
This captivating film marks the culmination of an epic four-year search for the Royal Navy 'Q' ship Lady Olive and the German Submarine UC18. These two vessels allegedly destroyed one another in a famous WW1 battle. They have lain lost on the sea bed ever since – along with the remains, in the case of the U-boat, of 28 crew. The details of the their deadly encounter have remained a mystery – until now. Follow the intrepid and tenacious work of a dedicated team of historians, divers and researchers as they push further and further to find the location and the truth of the lost submarine and its 28 crew, trapped inside over a century ago.