The Last Explorers
TV Show · Documentary · History

Neil Oliver archaeologist and writer follows in the footsteps of four famous Scottish explorers: David Livingstone, William Speirs Bruce, John Muir and Thomas Blake Glover. In four parts Neil Oliver discovers the impact of these acclaimed explorers who planted ideas rather than flags; ideas that shaped the modern world we know today.

2011 · 59m
Starring Neil Oliver

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    David Livingstone
    Neil travels down the Zambesi river to reveal how David Livingstone took the faith of his nation to the ends of the Earth and exploited his celebrity to end the slave trade. His was a moral mission: to reshape British values and bring commerce, Christianity and civilisation to the African continent.
    50 min
  • EPISODE 2
    William Speirs Bruce
    Following in the footsteps of a scientific explorer who has become all but lost to history, Neil charts the remarkable story of William Speirs Bruce, who was one of Britain's great, but least-known explorers. Bruce set out to conquer Antarctica, not for imperial glory, but to advance scientific knowledge in an era when exploration had become harnessed to national prestige.
    49 min
  • EPISODE 3
    John Muir
    Set in the spectacular Yosemite Valley in California, this is the story of the father of the modern conservation movement and one of the founders of America's National Park movement. John Muir was a 19th century adventurer who explored the natural world and devoted his life and work to persuade others to see the sacred beauty of his discoveries.
    50 min
  • EPISODE 4
    Thomas Blake Glover
    Neil travels to Japan to uncover the extraordinary story of Thomas Blake Glover. Blending adventure with commerce, Glover was a rogue trader who helped rebel Samurai clans overthrow the Shogun and lay the foundations for one of the most aggressive and powerful economies in the world.
    51 min

Related

Cast & Crew

  • Neil Oliver
    Host

About

The Last Explorers

Documentary

Neil Oliver archaeologist and writer follows in the footsteps of four famous Scottish explorers: David Livingstone, William Speirs Bruce, John Muir and Thomas Blake Glover. In four parts Neil Oliver discovers the impact of these acclaimed explorers who planted ideas rather than flags; ideas that shaped the modern world we know today.

Information

Studio
BBC
Released
2011
© 2011 BBC

Languages

Original Audio
English (United Kingdom)
Audio

English (United Kingdom) (AAC)

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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)