What happens when you take group of twenty first century people and put them aboard an eighteenth century ship?

That's what a BBC programme has just done, using a replica of Captain Cook's ship, The Endeavour.

They spent six weeks sailing part of the route followed by Captain Cook, on his historic voyage to Australia.

For the people of the time, the journey was as tremendous and arduous as a moon-shot would be now.

This morning on Breakfast, we talked to the programme's director - and one of the volunteer crew.

click here to watch our interview in full on The Ship

Details

Forty one volunteers joined 15 working crew on the Endeavour - a perfect replica of Cook's original ship - where they get to grips with the rigours of life on an 18th century tall-ship.

Also on board were British and Australian historians and scientific specialists including a botanist, botanical artist and astronomer.

Cook's voyages had a major impact on the native peoples of Australia and new Zealand. Their side of the story unfolds on board the Endeavour through the Aborigine and Maori crew members and their exchanges with native people on land and sea.

"The Ship is a fresh new concept in the history documentary genre which I believe will make compelling viewing, not only for those already fascinated by history, but also those new to the genre," says The Ship's BAFTA award-winning executive producer, Laurence Rees.

"This is not a case of trying to replicate the past. It is about how the past can illuminate the present and vice versa. Both the specialists and the volunteer recruits on board learn something new about themselves and about our century, but they also learn about the psychology and the sheer physical hardships of life for the 18th century sailor."

The Ship interweaves drama reconstruction of key moments in Captain Cook's original voyage with the 21st century adventure, exploring the similarities, but also the wide gulf between the past and present.

The Ship begins 9pm tonight (Tuesday August 20) on BBC TWO

click here for the full BBC website for The Ship: it's highly recommended