Into the UNKNOWN

SUE PERKINS on exploring the America's last frontier

-  HANNAH DAVIES

SUE PERKINS: LOST IN ALASKA NEW FRIDAY, 9PM, CHANNEL 5 TRAVELOGUE

Sue Perkins is stepping out of her comfort zone for her latest travelogue, Lost in Alaska. Starting on Channel 5 this week, the three-part trip sees the comedian and presenter visit the 49th state of the US, which is also known as America's Last Frontier because of the large amounts of unexplored territory, rugged landscape and extreme weather.

Along the way, Sue meets some of the incredible people who call Alaska home, including gold prospectors and doomsday preppers, plus she learns what it really takes to survive at the edge of civilisation - something that often left her in tears!

'I cry all the time in this series, says Sue, 54, whose previous TV expeditions include exploring India's Ganges river, Japan and the USMexico border. Most of the time, mercifully for the viewer, it's edited out. But I'm regularly in tears if I've had to do something difficult or come across something challenging.' Here, Sue talks us through her epic journey of discovery which starts in the city of Anchorage...

What do you think this show will reveal about Alaska? That the pioneer spirit is still very much alive! There’s so much uncharted territory you can plonk yourself in. It’s like there’s a moon landing every day, and everyone wants to be the first person to place their feet on untouched land.

There are Alaskans who buy a parcel of land in the middle of nowhere, spend days trekking there, and pop their family flag in the ground. Over two or three years, they build infrastructure, like roads and energy supplies, and live out there. I couldn’t do that personally because I have no transferable skills and I’m quite a wuss!