BBC Two announces epic adventure series with Steve Backshall

Adventurer and naturalist Steve Backshall embarks on one of the most dramatic and dangerous expeditions filmed by a BBC crew - to explore Venezuela’s tepuis, the ancient, sheer-sided mountains of Canaima National Park.

With a team of expert rock climbers, Steve attempts the first ascent of a remote, unclimbed tepui to search for wildlife on the summit. The month-long expedition will see Steve and the team scaling untouched mountain cliffs, caving inside the tepuis and abseiling off the highest waterfall in the world. Along the way, the team battles against freak weather, rock fall and some very dangerous wildlife.

This adventure series unfolds against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Venezuela’s tepuis – a strange and spectacular landscape. These enormous and isolated jungle mountains were the inspiration behind the popular animated film Up – it is a landscape with the power to thrill and astound.

Steve Backshall says: “I went to Venezuela looking for adventure. Turned out, I got a whole lot more than I bargained for! Filming this series was simply unforgettable. Some of the wildlife I saw, I’ve been waiting a lifetime to see and can be found nowhere else on the planet. It was also one of the most challenging expeditions I’ve been on; it’s a bit of a white-knuckle ride from start to finish!”

Adam Barker, Acting Channel Editor for BBC Two, says: “BBC Two is always looking for new ways to expand our audience’s horizons, whether through our foreign affairs coverage or through adventurous travel content such as this series, and I’m therefore delighted that Steve Backshall is coming to the channel to take on one of his toughest challenges yet. Following Steve and his team as they battle against nature and the elements, this is a totally gripping new series that also reveals a stunningly beautiful and remote part of the world.”

Martin Davidson, Head of Commissioning for Specialist Factual, BBC says: “This series is an utterly thrilling adventure as Steve and the team of experienced climbers attempt to tackle the untouched tepui, the beautiful vertical mountains of Venezuela. With lots of unexpected twists, turns and near misses – their journey is truly gripping. Along the way, Steve encounters many unique species of wildlife – from the wandering spider to the tarantula hawk wasp. I’m delighted to have Steve Backshall on BBC Two with this brilliant series.”

Notes to Editors

Steve Backshall’s Extreme Mountain Challenge (w/t)
2x60, BBC Two
Tx – TBC March

The executive producer is Jonathan Renouf and Producer/Director is Ben Lawrie.

KM

Q&A with Steve Backshall

How would you describe the experience of filming in three words?
White-knuckle ride.

What was your most memorable moment on this series?
Hanging in my harness, hundreds of metres up an unclimbed summit, cockroaches crawling over my feet, rocks hurtling down at my head from above, and a black storm cloud raging in towards us...

Any worst or most difficult moments?
The first ascent of the mountain was one of the most difficult and dangerous things I’ve ever done in my life. I’m not exaggerating to say we were very lucky to make it out alive.

Did you have any unusual meals?
When you’re living on a vertical rockface you have to watch the weight you carry obsessively. We were living on freeze-dried rations, which are actually pretty good, so I have no complaints!

Did you encounter any strange wildlife?
Plenty - on one natural rock ledge that we sleeping on we found scorpions and bullet ants (the world’s most painful stinging insect) crawling through our boots and sleeping bags.

Did you feel nervous when climbing the tepui or exploring the caves?
Nervous doesn’t describe it! Terrified would be more like it. 

How did making this series compare to some of your others?
It took us all by surprise quite how malevolent and dangerous the climb turned out to be. No one could have predicted quite how bad it would get. 

Did you learn anything from this adventure?
I learned enormous amounts: that even the best climbers in the world can get scared; that some mountains just don’t seem to want to be climbed... and then the rewarding knowledge that there are still dark corners of our planet left to be explored - and they are often utterly spectacular.  

Would you like to return to Canaima Park?
Definitely. It is one of the most jaw-dropping places on Earth, and somewhere it is still possible to genuinely explore. 

What do you think viewers can expect from the series?
I think they can expect to feel what it is really like to be on an expedition like this: they’ll feel the grime, the sweat, the fear and the pain. It’s a gritty and real documentary about an epic adventure in one of the world’s grandest locations. 

Why do you think it's important to keep exploring places like this? 
Knowing there are still places on our planet that are wild and wonderful inspires people to want to learn more, and proves there are things worthy of protection. Conservation was never the primary aim of this particular expedition, but it has certainly filled me with passion for finding out more about protecting this wondrous Shangri La at the end of the Earth.