John Simpson is to teach adventurers Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston how to file news reports from a war-zone in a new BBC series.
The BBC world affairs editor will take the pair to Afghanistan, as he files reports for the BBC News.
In return, the explorers will lead Simpson on the type of trips they are more familiar with, to hone the broadcaster’s adventure skills.
Sir Ranulph, whose records have included making the first surface journey around the world’s polar axis, will guide the others on a week-long journey to the Arctic Circle in temperatures as low as -50C.
Sir Robin, the first person to sail single-handedly and non-stop around the world, guides the voyage around South America’s dangerous Cape Horn. The team have just completed filming there and John Simpson kindly spared a moment to send us some photos. And here are the trio at Cape Horn (top right) and a shot of the treacherous waters they encountered (left).
The three-part series – Top Dogs: Adventures in War, Sea and Ice – will be shown on BBC2 in spring this year.
Read our interview with John Simpson.