Kate Humble, Gordon Buchanan and Simon Reeve to present BBC Two’s Arctic Live

They will also follow the remarkable journey of hundreds of polar bears as they wait to set off on their winter hunt after months without food. Every year, these bears gather on the shores of the bay waiting for the sea ice to form so they can head out to their frozen hunting grounds. While they wait, they roam the outskirts - and often the streets - of the tiny Manitoba town of Churchill, where the team will set up base. This year, broadcasting live from what’s become known as the polar bear capital of the world, Arctic Live will tell the story of not just these bears, but the entire North.

Life here is changing fast as global temperatures rise and the Arctic is becoming an increasingly valuable battleground. The longer the bears have to wait for their hunting ground to form, the longer the lucrative shipping season becomes. The less ice there is, the easier it becomes to access the oil, gas and minerals hidden beneath the frozen wastes. The story of Churchill and its polar bears will provide an unfolding narrative to a series that gives an unprecedented insight into the issues facing the whole Arctic, as well as the unique cultures and remarkable people who live here.

Donna Clark, BBC Head of Commissioning, Formats and Features, says: “Churchill and its bears are just part of an incredible global story, and in Arctic Live Kate, Simon and Gordon will explore how these are playing out across the North. The format of bringing audiences to unknown, faraway or hostile environments has proven immensely successful, so it's wonderful that this knowledgeable team of presenters will be bringing their insight and expertise to guide viewers through the story of the Arctic, at its most critical time."

Kate Humble says: “The Arctic is on one of those places that holds us in its thrall. Romantic and daunting in equal measure, it is a tough environment, full of equally tough people and wildlife. I'm very excited to be working there.”

Simon Reeve says: “I’m really excited about Arctic Live, which is going to take us into some of the most extreme and extraordinary areas of the world. We’ve got a great team beavering away at the moment, working hard to ensure the journeys and live broadcasts deliver a fascinating mix of stories and issues. The Live aspect of the project certainly ramps up the challenges involved, but I’ll be working with Kate Humble again and with Gordon for the first time. They’ve both got bags of experience filming live and on projects like this. I can’t wait!"

Gordon Buchanan says: “The Arctic is a wild place of extremes. The land, the people, the animals that live there are all shaped by snow and ice and by the seemingly perpetual darkness of the winter and endless summer sun. I simply cannot wait to get back there, to once again spend time in the company of polar bears - an amazing animal living in one of the most incredible places on Earth."

Adam Barker, Acting Channel Editor of BBC Two, says: “This ambitious new programme demonstrates BBC Two's ongoing commitment to bringing the world to our viewers in innovative new ways. Following the success of Chinese New Year earlier this year and World's Busiest Railway last autumn, I'm delighted that we are now heading into the stunning landscape of the Canadian Arctic to discover more about the wildlife and people living in this remote part of the world.”

Notes to Editors

• Arctic Live (3x60) was commissioned by Donna Clark, Head of Commissioning, Formats and Features. The executive producer is Lisa Ausden and the series producer is Sarah Gibbs.
• It will air later this year on BBC Two.
• There will also be a companion episode Life In Polar Bear Town (w/t, 1x60) that will deliver after the live event. This will be an in-depth look at day-to-day life in Churchill, where bears outnumber people for a few short weeks every year.

SH6