Emily Atack to retrace the steps of 19th Century explorer Isabella Bird | New BBC series with Ruby Wax and Melanie Brown

Emily Atack to retrace the steps of 19th Century explorer Isabella Bird

New BBC series with Ruby Wax and Melanie Brown

Emily Atack will join Ruby Wax and Spice Girl Melanie Brown in following the footsteps of 19th Century explorer Isabella Bird for a new TV series.

Their adventures – described as ‘fun, entertaining, and sometimes poignant’ – will be charted in a three-part series for BBC Two entitled Trailblazers.

Travelling alone, Bird crossed the American Wild West, befriending outlaws, climbing mountains, killing rattlesnakes and facing grizzly bears.

The three generations of celebrities will be using her 1873 book, A Lady’s Life In The Rocky Mountains as a guide for their travels as they pay homage to the forgotten pioneer.

According to the BBC, ‘they’ll challenge themselves in one of the world’s toughest terrains as they journey by any means possible through Colorado’s wild and awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains.

‘After sharing raucous campside tales and touching stories from their own past, the intrepid trio will reflect on how much has really changed since Isabella’s original journey.’

BBC executive Catherine Catton, who commissioned the show, said: ‘As we emerge from the pandemic and are able to start travelling again, I’m delighted that we’re setting off to the Rocky Mountains with the brilliant Ruby Wax, Melanie Brown and Emily Atack in a revealing new travel series.

Trailblazers is being made by Gordon Ramsay’s production company  Studio Ramsay.

Published: 9 Feb 2022

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