NGCI Secures Rights to Long Way Down

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 12:
National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has secured the global
premiere rights outside the U.K. for the ten-part adventure travel series Long
Way Down
, featuring British actors
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.

Produced by Big Earth
Productions and Elixir Films, the series features four extra hours of
previously unreleased footage. It is scheduled to air on both National
Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Adventure starting later this month.

Traversing more than
15,000 miles, Ewan and Charley set off on a trip from the top of Scotland to
the bottom tip of Africa. On motorcycles, they brave a Libyan sandstorm, desert
heat, one night deep in bandit country and a close call with an elephant. Along
the way, they camp with local tribes, track endangered gorillas in Uganda and
crash a wedding in Rwanda, where they meet the country’s president. The duo
finish their ride along the rugged South Africa coastline, followed by hundreds
of motorcycling enthusiasts eager to help them finish the last leg of the
journey.

David Alexanian, Charley
Boorman, Russ Malkin and Ewan McGregor are the executive producers for Big
Earth Productions and Elixir Films.

“Ewan and Charley spend
three months pushing their physical and emotional abilities, experiencing
life-changing moments in some of the world’s most dynamic and complex
countries,” said Sydney Suissa, the executive VP of content for NGCI. “Their
unfiltered experiences perfectly complement the core values that viewers associate
with our brand. Following their amazing journey is a tremendous opportunity for
National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Adventure.”

—By Irene Lew