Summary

It was the most dangerous journey on Earth. In the early 20th Century, the South Pole was the final frontier to be explored by man. The greatest race in history began between an Englishman and a Norwegian – a race not only for the Pole but also for nationalistic pride.

For Captain Robert Falcon Scott, victory would confirm the glory and grandeur of the British Empire. His opponent, Roald Amundsen, however, set out to prove that simple Scandinavian virtues of meticulous preparation and keen awareness were vital to success. Which of these two men was to achieve such an epic feat?

In 1912, Scott’s team died, starved and frostbitten, while Amundsen returned home victorious. Scott’s fatal demise has been attributed to his inexperience and second-rate leadership skills – but has historical analysis been too unkind? Is there another explanation for the outcome of this famous race?

Part history, part experiential history, part epic adventure, Race to the Pole injects a gripping drama into the heart of a classic documentary series. Two teams of present-day explorers accurately recreate Scott and Amundsen’s Antarctic race in a televisual experiment of heroism and ambition. Armed with identical equipment, the teams chart a parallel course to that of the 1911-12 expeditions, testing the strength of modern man on this extraordinary journey, navigating their way across 2,560 km of ice.

The volunteers have been carefully selected to match the physical and professional profiles of the men who took part in the original expedition. The polar playing field has been levelled so that the truth may be revealed: will history be repeated?