Icons (2019)

Explorers (1x2)

Air date: Jan 09, 2019

The second in series charts the story of exploration in the 20th century. 20th-century exploration began with flag planting in the name of empire, and over the decades, improvements in technology saw explorers take on greater and greater challenges - pursuing prizes from the poles, to the highest points on earth - and beyond. The incredible individuals who took humankind to the limits of what was thought possible also oversaw an evolution - as time went on exploration went from a tool of empire, to one of cultural discovery and conservation. The story of exploration in the 20th century is one that took us from conquest to understanding. As well as displaying almost superhuman bravery and courage, each of the four icons helped us see our world differently - far from being simply a race to the biggest prizes, some of the most valuable lessons learned from 20th Century explorers are not about unknown wonders, but about appreciating and preserving the world around us. Dermot examines the lives of Ernest Shackleton, Gertrude Bell, Neil Armstrong and Jane Goodall. He uncovers their greatest achievements and explores their legacies. Shackleton - From the Heroic Age of Exploration, Shackleton was not famed for a glorious victory, but his extraordinary humanity in the face of what might haven been one of exploration's greatest disasters. Bell - Almost erased from history, Bell was a trailblazing adventurer and spent years learning about the intricate politics of the Middle-East before becoming the first woman to work for British Intelligence. Armstrong - A daring test pilot and Korean War veteran, Armstrong became the focus of the whole world when he stepped out onto the moon and gave us a new perspective on the earth. Goodall - The first person to successfully study chimps in the wild, Goodall set out to explore and chart the chimpanzees in their natural habitat in a remote part of Tanzania, and over the course of the next 40 years her work redefined