The Victorian Rakes History Blog

Review of Episode 1: The Discovery Expedition 1901-1904

Ok, so I know my blog was supposed to cover the Georgian and Victorian eras but this series is about an expedition in the Edwardian period. Polar exploration is a new area of historical interest for me so I intend to start reading and reviewing some books about early polar exploration.

Episode 1 of this series first aired in October 2023 on Channel 5 and it is also available to stream now on My5. Rather than just a factual recount of Robert Scott’s attempt to be the first man to reach the South Pole, the two presenters, Ben Fogle and Dwayne Fields, attempt to retrace his steps using the same equipment, food and clothing that Scott and his companions Edward Wilson and Ernest Shackleton, used at the beginning of the 20th century.

Those familiar with Scott’s expedition are unlikely to learn anything new, but it is recommended for viewers with little knowledge of the expedition. Fogle and Fields are engaging presenters, the scenery is spectacular (I don’t mean the scene where Fogle and Fields strip off to ‘freshen up’ with an early morning snow wash). I particularly like how details of Scott’s actual expedition are interspersed with the progress of our two presenters.

For history buffs, perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the episode may be watching how modern-day explorers cope with using replicas of the equipment Scott and his companions used 120 years ago. The boiled wool clothes don’t look like they would keep anyone warm on a night out in Newcastle in February, let alone in the coldest place on earth. The food looks unappetising by modern-day standards. It is time-consuming to prepare and seems like it wouldn’t have been able to provide Scott with sufficient calories to replace those he had lost after a hard day. Indeed, Ben Fogle’s face appears to get thinner as the episode progresses.

One of my favourite parts of the episode was when the presenters talked about explorers who inspired them. One of Dwayne Fields hero’s was Matthew Henson (1866-1955). He was an African American explorer who made seven voyages to the Arctic and is claimed to be the first person to reach the geographic North Pole.

It’s unsurprising that I hadn’t heard of Henson given my lack of knowledge of polar exploration. Nevertheless, I believe Henson’s achievements have been underrepresented, particularly in the UK.

Episode 1 of Endurance: Race to the Pole is definitely worth watching. A lasting impression of the program is how tough and mentally strong the early polar explorers were. This is not to belittle the efforts made by Fogle and Fields, who spent a week on the ice in trying conditions. However, they were accompanied by a film crew and could be quickly airlifted to safety after a satellite phone call. In contrast, Scott and his men spent 93 days on the ice, so far away from help that they would have died before it arrived. They endured incredibly tough conditions and by the end were suffering from snow blindness, frostbite, and the onset of scurvy. These men were truly formidable

I will review episodes 2 and 3 in the coming weeks.