UKTV’s Dave Recommissions Expedition with Steve Backshall

UKTV has partnered with Fremantle for a four-part second season of Expedition with Steve Backshall for Dave.

Produced by True to Nature, the show will see naturalist and TV presenter Backshall, along with his crew of adventurist experts, exploring parts of the globe that have rarely been seen and documenting their “natural world” first discoveries. UKTV will also produce and air Expedition Unseen, taking viewers further and deeper into each of the four new expeditions and revealing unforeseen physical challenges and additional wildlife encounters, giving new and exciting insights into the unknown.

Season one was UKTV’s first-ever carbon-neutral production and season two will be following in its footsteps. To become certified as sustainable, the new series will comply with standards required by Albert, the authority on environmental sustainability for film and TV industries. The production team will calculate the predicted carbon footprint for the series and pledge to reduce carbon emissions during filming, with the remaining carbon footprint to be offset.

In the first season, Steve and his team documented several world firsts, venturing into unmapped rainforest and unrun rivers, descending into unexplored canyons and diving into undiscovered underwater caves.

Fremantle holds international distribution rights.

Backshall said: “I’m delighted to be continuing on the Expedition journey, heading further and deeper into the unknown, but this time putting the spotlight on the wildlife. The ambition is big and—on our rapidly changing planet—the stakes have never been higher.”

Richard Watsham, director of commissioning at UKTV, said: “The success of Expedition with Steve Backshall is proof that Dave can deliver quality, premium factual, that combines high drama and, as UKTV’s first carbon-neutral production, social responsibility. Packed with extraordinary sights that have never been seen before and the incredible endeavors undertaken to uncover them, these unforgettable journeys shine a light on sustainability but do so in an exciting and engaging way. I can’t wait to see where Steve and his team take us next.”

True to Nature CEO Wendy Darke said, “Following on from our ten world-first discoveries in series one, I’m thrilled to be continuing this premium global brand with conservation and adventure at the heart of the narrative. The goal of our world-class team is to reveal new insights to deepen our understanding and connection with the natural world.”

Angela Neillis, senior VP of non-scripted content, International, Fremantle, said, “Expedition with Steve Backshall has been loved by varied audiences both in the UK and internationally. With the first series having sold to over 140 countries, we’re excited to re-join Steve and his brilliant team as they travel around our beautiful planet, looking at its shifting landscape and the impact on our living creatures, as they make even more incredible discoveries.”