ITV’s Christmas documentary sees adventurer Steve Backshall follow in the footsteps of a young Prince Charles, with the King reflecting on his early Arctic expedition and decades of environmental advocacy
ITV has acquired a new documentary charting environmentalist and adventurer Steve Backshall’s extraordinary journey to the Canadian Arctic, where he retraces the footsteps of a young Prince Charles fifty years after the future King’s own expedition to the frozen north. The 90-minute film, Steve Backshall’s Royal Arctic Challenge, will air as part of ITV’s Christmas schedule and includes a rare conversation with King Charles about the impact of climate change, alongside previously unseen archive footage from his original 1975 trip.
Produced by Fresh Start Media, the feature-length documentary follows Backshall as he experiences first-hand the devastating effects of global warming on one of the world’s most vulnerable regions. The film sets out to show how the Arctic – now warming three times faster than the rest of the planet – has transformed since the King’s youthful adventure, and how scientists and local communities are fighting to preserve it.
Backshall’s journey mirrors that of the then 26-year-old Prince Charles, whose original expedition included dog sledding, diving beneath the Arctic ice, and learning about the traditions and environmental knowledge of the Inuit people. That 1975 journey, described by palace officials as one of the most formative of his life, deepened Charles’s understanding of the natural world and helped shape the environmental consciousness that would define his public work for decades.
According to ITV, the new film captures both the wonder and the warning of the Arctic landscape. It blends the drama of exploration with the urgency of environmental storytelling, as Backshall seeks to understand what has been lost – and what might still be saved – since the King’s original trip.
“To see the Arctic through The King’s eyes – then and now – was both inspiring and sobering,” Backshall said. “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.”
The film is built around this unique intersection of past and present – the young explorer prince who saw the Arctic in its raw splendour and the monarch who now speaks of its peril. With unprecedented access, the documentary shows King Charles reflecting on his early encounters with the region and his lifelong belief in the need to live in harmony with nature.
The documentary’s director, Marshall Corwin, described the project as a rare opportunity to see the King in a new light. “It has been a real privilege – and eye-opener – seeing His Majesty the King as never before: his extreme spirit of adventure, his genuine passion for the planet, and his mischievous sense of humour,” he said.
The film also features the voices of those who accompanied Backshall on his modern-day journey – researchers, conservationists, and Inuit elders – whose stories reveal how dramatically the Arctic has changed. Melting ice, shifting wildlife patterns, and the encroachment of industry have become daily realities, offering stark evidence of the global climate emergency.
Nicky Cox, the documentary’s executive producer, said the programme underscores the scale of the challenge the world now faces. “His Majesty’s decades-long dedication to the environment is nothing short of visionary,” Cox said. “This film stands as a testament to that leadership, and to the fragile beauty of the planet he has spent his life defending.”
For ITV, *Steve Backshall’s Royal Arctic Challenge* adds to a growing portfolio of programmes that engage audiences with global environmental issues through human stories and compelling visuals. Darren Narty, ITV’s Head of Acquisitions, said the broadcaster was delighted to bring the documentary to a primetime audience. “We are thrilled to be able to bring this stunning documentary to ITV,” he said. “It’s fascinating to see His Majesty look back on his time exploring the Arctic as a young man and then hear him speak about his continued passion for helping the planet.”
The programme’s release comes at a moment when climate awareness and royal advocacy intersect more strongly than ever. As King, Charles has made environmental stewardship a central theme of his reign, continuing the work he began decades ago as an outspoken prince warning of ecological destruction.
By revisiting the icy landscapes that first stirred that concern, Steve Backshall’s Royal Arctic Challenge offers both a reflection and a reckoning: a portrait of how much the world has changed in half a century and how one man’s youthful curiosity became a lifelong mission.
Directed by Marshall Corwin and executive produced by Corwin and Nicky Cox, the film was produced by Fresh Start Media for ITV. It will premiere as part of ITV’s festive schedule, offering audiences a visually stunning and emotionally charged exploration of adventure, memory, and environmental urgency.
