Top Dogs: Adventures in War, Sea and Ice - Arctic

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.