I've had to work under that Bow many a time but still haven't got onboard. The queue was 2 hours and by the time I got there the queue was closed!
Ark Royal IIRC is currently going through FOST once thats done she can rejoin the fleet and then regain Flagship status.
I was surprised how small she looked against the Liverpool skyline. When Illustrious adn Ark Royal were berthed in Pompey line astern they looked huge!
As for the Harriers, Thet're proven in combat, are still doing a damn good job in Afghanistan and at the momnet are the ONLY STOL aircraft in service today. The US have spent years trying to get their modern replacemnt working and are still struggling!
The dry dock for the new carriers (CVF) have begun construction in Scotland....They will be big.
As for the series Warship...I've enjoyed it so far, I has glamourised ship life....believe me alot of the time is dull and mundane!
A good insight into ship life is here:
http://www.hms-somerset-co.blogspot.com/Although it is still politicised a bit.