James May's Great Explorers
TV Show · Documentary

James May charts the journeys of Christopher Columbus, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Captain James Cook, through hands-on experiments, examining technological wonders, and plenty of messing about in boats.

2025 · 1h 30m
Starring James May
Director Tom Whittle

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    Christopher Columbus
    James rewrites stories of the greatest explorers in his inimitable entertaining way, starting with Columbus and how he merely `stumbled across' two continents, then took the spoils.
    1h 30 min
  • EPISODE 2
    Sir Walter Raleigh
    James May uncovers the truth behind Sir Walter Raleigh's legendary rise, from his persuasive skills to his New World ventures, and reveals the dark legacy of his explorations.
    1h 30 min
  • EPISODE 3
    Captain Cook
    James May explores Captain James Cook's rise from an apprentice to the greatest naval captain of his age, experiencing his voyages and reflecting on Cook's legacy in navigation and colonial impact.
    1h 30 min

Related

Cast & Crew

  • James May
    Host
  • T‌W
    Tom Whittle
    Director
  • W‌D
    Will Daes
    Producer
  • C‌L
    Catrina Lear
    Producer

About

James May's Great Explorers

Documentary

James May charts the journeys of Christopher Columbus, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Captain James Cook, through hands-on experiments, examining technological wonders, and plenty of messing about in boats.

Information

Studio
5
Released
2025

Languages

Subtitles

English (United Kingdom)

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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)