Channel 4 Commissions Guy Martin’s Power Trip

Channel 4 has ordered the three-part docuseries Guy Martin’s Power Trip (w.t.) from North One.

The eponymous lorry mechanic and motorcycle racer will investigate the past, present and future of British power stations to find out how the country makes its most valuable commodity—electricity.

Throughout the series, Martin will learn how to escape from an underwater helicopter so that he can work on the world’s biggest offshore wind farm, work with the British Army in its new solar-powered workshop, manually make the second-by-second adjustments required to balance the U.K.’s supply of electricity with its ever-changing demand and more. Martin will also drive to the very end of the National Grid—the Orkney Islands—to learn more about the world’s biggest tidal generator.

“I’ve been telling the telly lot we need to do this series for ages,” Martin said. “I’ve always been fascinated with power—making it, using it, tuning it, while at the same time trying to be efficient and not spend a fortune. And whether it’s motorbikes or tractors or my house or power stations, the principles are the same. All the places we’ve had access to are tricky, and getting stuck in alongside the people who work in them is bloody brilliant. The plan is to find out how power generation works, what the good bits are, what the problems are and where our next bit of electricity is best coming from.”

“With the current energy crisis, there’s never been a better time to for Guy to roll his sleeves up and explain just what really powers Britain now, how we’ll be making electricity in the future and whether our bills will be coming down any time soon,” said Jonah Weston, commissioning editor at Channel 4.

James Woodroffe of North One, series director, added, “Recent events mean people have never been more curious about where their energy comes from, and Guy’s typically enthusiastic and entertaining romp around Britain’s power stations, wind farms, fusion reactors and National Grid is an essential guide to how these vital pieces of national infrastructure actually work.”