Guardians of the Antarctic

On Thin Ice

December 2024 •English

Double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell, TV presenter Ben Fogle and Doctor Ed Coats compete in one of the world’s greatest challenges – the 2009 race to the South Pole - the first organised race since Scott and Amundsen almost 100 years ago.

Helen's Polar Challenge for Sport Relief

December 2024 •English

Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton makes an epic 500-mile journey to the South Pole by kite, by ski and - in a world first - by bike, to raise awareness for Sport Relief.

Tears of Antarctica

December 2024 •Korean

Frozen Planet

December 2024 •English

David Attenborough travels to the end of the earth, taking viewers on an extraordinary journey across the polar regions of our planet.

Life in the Freezer

December 2024 •English

Sir David Attenborough looks at the natural history of the Antarctic continent

The Black Box on Earth

December 2024 •Korean

In 2049, the only remaining data center "Black Box" on the planet rendered uninhabitable by climate disaster. The recorder who resides in "Black Box" accidentally brings out the documentary made by 2023 musicians... The last record on earth left with music on the fast-destroying earth, "The Black Box on Earth"!

Continent 7: Antarctica

December 2024 •English

Take a journey to Antarctica to experience the world’s most extreme wilderness, to see the massive undertaking it is to support human life there, and to chronicle the world-changing science being done. Embed with missions on the ice, underneath it, and atop some of its peaks, as scientists and survival experts join forces to fight brutal conditions to help change the world.

Blizzard: Race to the Pole

December 2024 •English

Series following the reconstruction of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott's epic, but ill-fated, trek to the South Pole in 1911

Through the Homeland of Ice and Storms

December 2024 •German

In 1989, the German polar explorer Arved Fuchs and the South Tyrolean mountaineer Reinhold Messner set out together to reach the South Pole on skis without sled dogs or motor technology and then cross the entire Antarctic. There are problems right from the start because the onward transport to the starting point by plane cannot be carried out on time. Finally, the adventurers set off from Patriot Hills Base Camp on the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf to the Pole. The completely different character traits of the two men quickly emerge. Messner is impetuous and pushes for speed. The calm Fuchs divides his strength and consistently follows his pace during all planned breaks. On New Year's Eve 1989, the two men are warmly welcomed by the crew of the US Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. But the much larger and more dangerous part of their adventurous continental crossing still lies ahead of them. The 3-part documentary shows one of the last great adventures of modern times in impressive pictures.

Shackleton: Death or Glory

December 2024 •English

This series follows a modern expedition that re-creates Sir Ernest Shackleton's trans-Antarctic expedition, which launched in 1914. The series joins a crew of five intrepid explorers, led by renowned adventurer, scientist, and author Tim Jarvis, as they duplicate Shackleton's epic sea-and-land voyage in a replica of the original explorer's lifeboat.

The Funny Chef of South Polar

December 2024 •Japanese

The Japanese 38th South Pole research expedition team are at the Dome base. Located 1,000 km away from the main Showa base at an altitude of 3,800 m, it is called the most inhospitable place on earth with an average temperature of -54 deg Celsius. No living thing or even a virus can survive in such an environment. Three of the seven-member expedition team are researchers and the remaining four are support personnel. However, they are common men who have to live together in the confined space of the Dome base for one year.

Antarctica

December 2024 •Japanese

Set in the 1950's, a Japanese Antarctic research exploration team and 19 dogs that accompanied the team are stationed at the Showa Base in Antarctica. After a year, the exploration team is ordered to withdraw from the Antarctic station due to severe weather conditions. The dogs have to be left behind. The following year, the next team arrives at the Showa Base station and a miraculous reunion occurs between a dog handler accompanying the new tean and two dogs, Taro and Shiro, that are brothers.

The Head

December 2024 •English

In an isolated and inaccessible Antarctic research station in which winter has fallen on the South Pole and the sun will soon disappear for the next six months, a small team, known as the Winterers, remain at the Polaris VI Antarctic Research Station to continue their innovative research. Renowned biologist Arthur Wilde is determined to find a solution to climate change, but his quest turns into a nightmare when several of his esteemed scientists suddenly begin to die.

A Place Further Than the Universe

December 2024 •Japanese

Scenery that we have never seen. Sounds that we have never heard. Scent that we have never smelled. Food that we have never tasted. And the surge of emotion that we have never experienced. This is the expedition of recollecting the pieces torn apart and sensation left alone. When we reach that place, what will we think? Howling, 40 degree angle. Raging, 50 degree angle. Shouting, 60 degree angle. A wilderness beyond the heavy sea. The furthest south, far from civilization. At the top of the Earth. We will find lights through the girls' eyes to live tomorrow.

The Last Place on Earth

December 2024 •English

The Last Place on Earth is a 1985 Central Television seven part serial, written by Trevor Griffiths based on the book Scott and Amundsen by Roland Huntford. The book is an exploration of the expeditions of Captain Robert F. Scott and his Norwegian rival in polar exploration, Roald Amundsen in their attempts to reach the South Pole. The series ran for seven episodes and starred a wide range of UK and Norwegian character actors as well as featuring some famous names, such as Max von Sydow, Richard Wilson, Sylvester McCoy and Pat Roach. It also featured performances early in their careers by Bill Nighy and Hugh Grant. Subsequently Huntford's book was republished under the same name. The book put forth the point of view that Amundsen's success in reaching the South Pole was abetted by much superior planning, whereas errors by Scott ultimately resulted in the death of him and his companions.

Shackleton

December 2024 •English

The true story of Ernest Shackleton's 1914 Endurance expedition to the the South Pole and his epic struggle to lead his crew to safety after his ship was crushed in the pack ice.

Pingu

December 2024 •English

Playful penguin Pingu lives with his family in Antarctica, where he often finds himself caught up in mischievous high jinks with his pal Robby.

Ma maison, mon cauchemar

December 2024 •French

Richard Turcotte meets people who, like him, had to live through the nightmare of a renovation project gone wrong. Water leaks, fungi, vermin infestations, undrinkable water, shaky structures: these unlucky owners have seen it all! Richard explains the consequences that a problem house can have on the mental, physical, financial and familial health on its owners.

WWII Women on the Frontline

December 2024 •English

Defying expectations, overcoming prejudices, and often outperforming their counterparts, these are the courageous, and unwritten stories of the women who fought the Nazis. This remarkable documentary explores the daring and unknown histories of the remarkable pilots, journalists, guerrillas and spies who fought, flew, and died across Britain, Germany, France and beyond during World War II.

Tradition on a Plate

December 2024 •English

Monique and Henry, from My Kitchen Rules, return to our screens for a deliciously entertaining series serving up tradition on a plate, demonstrating how to cook delicious traditional Māori meals, focusing on the memories and sovereignty of Māori food.