Anna Sewell in Old Catton, Sewell wrote the manuscript of "Black Beauty" – in the period between 1871 and 1877. During this time her health was declining; she was often so weak that she was confined to her bed. Writing was a challenge. She dictated the text to her mother and from 1876 began to write on slips of paper which her mother then transcribed. Although the book is now considered a children's classic, Sewell originally wrote it for those who worked with horses. She said "a special aim was to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses". In many
Brian Sewell himself a Roman Catholic, prompting an emotional response to the faith of pilgrims at Lourdes. The series attracted large audiences and won the Sandford St. Martin Trust award for Best Religious Programme. Following "The Naked Pilgrim" Sewell presented on two more series for Channel 5: "Brian Sewell's Phantoms & Shadows: 100 Years of Rolls-Royce" in 2004 and "Brian Sewell's Grand Tour" in 2006. Sewell also appeared as a guest film reviewer on Channel 5's "Movie Lounge", where he frequently savaged films. In "Dirty Dalí: A Private View" on Channel 4 on 3 June 2007, Sewell described his acquaintance with Salvador