Episode 1

Synopsis

James Cracknell and Ben Fogle attempt to race to the South Pole. The duo start their training. They learn to cope with extreme cold and wind in a climatic chamber, expose themselves to hypothermia and, most importantly, find their third team member - actor Jonny Lee Miller.

Together, the three polar novices attend the first race training session in Norway. Here, they start to learn basic cold weather survival skills needed to cope with the constant cold of Antarctica. And crucially, they begin to bond as a team. But will they be able to marry three busy careers with all the training and preparation required to face the worlds coldest, windiest and highest continent?

Credits

Presenter

Alexis Girardet

Participant

James Cracknell

Participant

Ben Fogle

Participant

Jonny Lee Miller

Director

Alexis Girardet

Executive Producer

Lisa Edwards

Executive Producer

Melanie Leach

Broadcasts

1. Sun 28 Jun 2009
   21:00
   BBC Two (except Northern Ireland (Analogue), Wales (Analogue))
2. Mon 29 Jun 2009
   22:45
   BBC HD
3. Wed 1 Jul 2009
   00:10
   BBC Two (England, Scotland, Wales only)
4. Wed 1 Jul 2009
   00:40
   BBC Two (Northern Ireland only)
5. Wed 1 Jul 2009
   21:00
   BBC HD
6. Thu 9 Jul 2009
   01:10
   BBC One
7. Wed 28 Oct 2009
   00:00
   BBC HD