STEVE BACKSHALL TO EMBARK ON ROYAL ARCTIC CHALLENGE FOR ITV CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

This Christmas on ITV, Steve Backshall will retrace King Charles's 1975 expedition to the Canadian Arctic. Steve Backshall's Royal Arctic Challenge will feature dog sledding, diving under ice, and an exclusive discussion on the state of the planet and the devastating effects of the climate crisis.

Steve Backshall said: "To see the Arctic through the King’s eyes – then and now – was both inspiring and sobering. Standing where the King once stood, diving beneath the same Arctic ice he explored half a century ago, was humbling beyond words. His Majesty was raising the alarm for the natural world long before most of us realised how urgent that call would become. His commitment to protecting our planet runs through every fibre of this story."

Meanwhile, Stephen Mulhern and Ant & Dec will star in a brand new travel format, The Accidental Tourist, co-produced by South Shore and Mitre Studios, commissioned by ITV1 and ITVX for broadcast later this year.

Catchphrase and Deal or No Deal host Stephen is a man who likes what he knows - and that does not include travelling to exotic locations, trying new foods or being pushed out of his comfort zone in any way. But now Stephen has asked Ant & Dec to help him finally change his ways… and they have decided to send their good friend to Asia to broaden his horizons.

In this one-off special Stephen will be thrust out of his comfort zone to see if he can truly unearth the adventurer within. With Ant & Dec taking their cues from their favourite viral clips, they are sending Stephen somewhere he has never been before, in an effort to help to test his resolve and push his boundaries. 

Stephen will encounter epic locations, exotic cultures and cuisines, incredible people and places and exhilarating activities he would never have chosen for himself. So will this ultimate immersive experience make Stephen finally embrace the unknown and unleash his inner traveller?

Both shows will air later this year on ITV1 and ITVX.