To COLDLY go

BEN FOGLE on following in the footsteps of his Edwardian heroes

- IAN MACEWAN

ENDURANCE: RACE TO THE POLE

MONDAY, 9PM, CHANNEL 5 FACTUAL

In the early 20th century, the race was on to reach the South Pole. Britain’s Robert Falcon Scott, Ireland’s Ernest Shackleton and Norway’s Roald Amundsen vied to write their names into history.

Now, modern-day adventurers Ben Fogle and Dwayne Fields have teamed up to pay tribute to the trio, retracing their steps across the Antarctic wilderness for a three-part Channel 5 series, Endurance: Race to the Pole. And to make things more authentic, the duo will use the same kit as their Edwardian predecessors as they re-create three iconic expeditions (see panel, right).

TV Times caught up with Ben, 49, to find out how they got on…

How important was the first race to the South Pole?

That early race to the pole captivated the world. You can’t underestimate how brave they were to go on three-year expeditions with rudimentary equipment – boiled-wool jackets, wool jumpers and gabardine [a tightly woven fabric] tops.

You sport Edwardian clothing for your adventures – what was that like?

Obviously, with a voice like mine, I have worn tweed before! But in all seriousness, the kit was amazing and the natural fibres worked incredibly well.

Were there any hairy moments during filming?