Top Dogs: Adventures in War, Sea and Ice

A unique, behind-the-scenes insight into the process of overseas news reporting, as seen through the eyes of 'top dogs'. Three iconic adventurers - newsman John Simpson, polar explorer Ranulph Fiennes and solo yachtsman Robin Knox-Johnston - go on a newsgathering trip to war-torn Afghanistan. Simpson has to ensure the other two men are adequately trained and prepared for their foray into the world of the foreign correspondent. On the ground in Afghanistan, the three men aim to find out why, after many years of Western occupation, the security situation is still deteriorating. At great personal risk, they journey overland from Kabul to the treacherous border with Pakistan. Braving hostile crowds, heavily mined roads and the ever-present threat of suicide-bombers, they eventually file a live report from one of Afghanistan's most notorious hotspots.

The second part of a new series following three iconic adventurers - newsman John Simpson, polar explorer Ranulph Fiennes and solo yachtsman Robin Knox-Johnston - as they attempt to sail around the most notorious of all maritime landmarks, Cape Horn, situated at the southernmost tip of South America. Waves in these remote waters can reach up to eighty feet high, and fierce gales blow up out of nowhere. The programme also offers a unique insight into the life of the professional solo yachtsman. Knox-Johnston was the first person ever to sail single-handed, non-stop around the world, winning the Golden Globe Race back in 1969. He now aims to give his fellow adventurers a taste of this experience, and wastes no time putting them to work hauling sails, working the ropes and tackling all of the varied aspects of shipboard life. In preparation for their Cape Horn voyage, Robin must intensively train his fellow 'Top Dogs', not only so they can become useful crew members, but also to give them a fighting chance of survival should disaster strike in the unforgiving Southern Ocean. Out here, they will be hundreds of miles from the nearest port, and even seasoned old sea dogs can become unstuck when the elements do their worst. As they head into the treacherous Southern Ocean, the weather takes an unexpected turn for the worse, and the Dogs must battle to keep the yacht under control and reach their goal. Together, they must overcome mechanical failure and serious illness before finally approaching Cape Horn itself.

The third part of the series following three iconic adventurers - newsman John Simpson, polar explorer Ranulph Fiennes and solo yachtsman Robin Knox-Johnston - as they man-haul sledges across the frozen sea ice of the Canadian Arctic. The programme reveals the true grit required to take on one of the world's most dangerous environments. Polar explorer Ranulph Fiennes lost the tips of several fingers due to the frostbite he received on his last Arctic expedition. Now, returning to the sea ice for the first time, he is determined to give his two colleagues a real taste of the hardships involved in Arctic travel. In this, he undoubtedly succeeds. The frustration of pulling heavy sledges, freezing temperatures, strong winds and sleeping on ice strips away any semblance of artifice and provides a real glimpse into what these men are like. Revealing moments of anger and humour are never far away throughout the expedition, but when John Simpson's fingers become frostbitten, it becomes clear that the Arctic is not a place to take lightly.