Tuesday 2nd March 2020
UKTV has partnered with Fremantle for a second series of Expedition with Steve Backshall (4x60'). Produced by True to Nature, the ambitious show will see naturalist and TV presenter Steve Backshall, along with his crew of adventurist experts, exploring parts of the globe that have rarely been seen and documenting their 'natural world' first discoveries. UKTV will also produce and air Expedition Unseen (1x60'), taking viewers further and deeper into each of the four new expeditions and revealing unforeseen physical challenges and additional wildlife encounters, giving new and exciting insights into the unknown.
Steve Backshall said:
I'm delighted to be continuing on the Expedition journey, heading further and deeper into the unknown, but this time putting the spotlight on the wildlife. The ambition is big and - on our rapidly changing planet - the stakes have never been higher.
Expedition with Steve Backshall is produced by True to Nature, commissioned for UKTV by Richard Watsham, director of commissioning, and ordered by Luke Hales, Dave channel director. Steve North is genre general manager, comedy and entertainment. Expedition with Steve Backshall is executive produced by Watsham and Wendy Darke, CEO at True to Nature.
Series one was UKTV's first ever carbon neutral production and series two will be following in its footsteps. To become certified as sustainable, the new series will comply with standards required by Albert, the authority on environmental sustainability for film and TV industries. The production team will calculate the predicted carbon footprint for the series and pledge to reduce carbon emissions during filming, with the remaining carbon foot-print to be offset.
Richard Watsham said:
The success of Expedition with Steve Backshall is proof that Dave can deliver quality, premium factual, that combines high drama and, as UKTV's first carbon neutral production, social responsibility. Packed with extraordinary sights that have never been seen before and the incredible endeavours undertaken to uncover them, these unforgettable journeys shine a light on sustainability but do so in an exciting and engaging way. I can't wait to see where Steve and his team take us next.
Wendy Darke said:
Following on from our ten world first discoveries in series one, I'm thrilled to be continuing this premium global brand with conservation and adventure at the heart of the narrative. The goal of our world class team is to reveal new insights to deepen our understanding and connection with the natural world.
Angela Neillis, SVP non-scripted content, international, Fremantle, said:
Expedition with Steve Backshall has been loved by varied audiences both in the UK and internationally. With the first series having sold to over 140 countries, we're excited to re-join Steve and his brilliant team as they travel around our beautiful planet, looking at its shifting landscape and the impact on our living creatures, as they make even more incredible discoveries.
In the first series, Steve and his team documented several world firsts, venturing into unmapped rainforest and unrun rivers, descending into unexplored canyons and diving into undiscovered underwater caves.
The announcement of this new series of Expedition with Steve Backshall joins other recent Dave commissions, such as Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, World's Most Dangerous Roads and returning Comedians Giving Lectures, Hypothetical and Sliced. Coming to the channel in the first half of 2020 are Big Zuu's Big Eats, Meet The Richardsons and Comedy Against Living Miserably as well as returning favourite Red Dwarf for a feature length special.
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Praise for the first series of Expedition with Steve Backshall on Dave:
- "Tremendously exciting... a terrific series full of proper adventures" Radio Times
- "The explorer finds some stunning sights in his ambitious new series" Daily Mail
- "Death-defying series" The Sun
- "So daring even Indiana Jones might blanch at the prospect" Mail on Sunday Event
- "Steve's commitment to showing us a world no one has seen before is extraordinary" TV Times
For more information, please contact:
Ben Duncan, Publicist, UKTV
Victoria Fairclough, Head of Network Communications, UKTV
About Dave
Freeview 19, Sky 111, Virgin 127, YouView 19, Freesat 157, BT & TalkTalk 19
On demand on UKTVPlay
Ever since it was knee high to a TV remote, Dave had an idea. It wanted to be the first place viewers would come for brand-new, award-winning comedy entertainment from the biggest and brightest stars and production companies in the UK. And in the years since, it has launched some of the most exciting and best-loved titles on TV, including the launch of Taskmaster. The channel's critically-acclaimed established comedy hits Hypothetical, Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier and Comedians Giving Lectures will shortly welcome the forthcoming Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable. And it's not just in front of the camera where the comic genius lies either, with a wealth of scripted treasure such as Sliced, the upcoming Meet the Richardsons and a first ever feature-length special for Red Dwarf.
Dave's not content on just making you laugh and share gags with your mates though. Expedition with Steve Backshall and Hurricane Man show off regions and aspects of the earth never before seen on TV while the resurrection of the hit series World's Most Dangerous Roads promises to test some of the UK's biggest comedic friendships to their absolute limits. Eddie Eats America and Big Zuu's Big Eats deliver mouth-watering food shows with a Dave twist while Red Bull Soapbox continues to delight with its boundless capacity for invention.
The partnership between Dave and CALM continues to grow, having launched the "Be The Mate You'd Want" campaign, the Conversations Against Living Miserably podcast and its first commission on the horizon, Comedy Against Living Miserably for three stand-up specials.
Reaching 20million viewers a month, Dave's come a long way, but it's only just getting warmed up.
dave.uktv.co.uk / @davechannel
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.
UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.