Ice (2007)

What's going on in Antarctica? What are people doing there, and who's paying? Ice is a five-part series about the explorers, history, environment and animals - the reality of life in Antarctica. Marcus Lush braves sub-zero temperatures to answer the burning questions; such as why does New Zealand maintain a base on the ice? Is it a lark, a holiday camp for scientists, or is it a serious place of research? Can you eat the biscuits in Shackleton's Hut, and what does penguin taste like? The show also investigates and celebrates New Zealand's many connections with Antarctica - connections that go back over a century, connections that were particularly strong during the heroic era and those that are still strong between Christchurch and McMurdo Base and Scott Base on Ross Island. "Everything surprised me, I knew the history would be fascinating, but what really stunned me was the landscape and the wildlife," says Lush. 'ICE' delivers more than just pretty pictures of penguins and whales - there's a pinch of history, a dash of environmental awareness and stories of survival and courage. It's about Scott Base but with plenty of time spent in the field in ice caves and tents, each presenting their own challenges. "This turned out to be the most stunning month of my life"....Marcus Lush