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Airdate: Egypt With The World’s Greatest Explorer

Sir Ranulph Fiennes returns to the scene of his 1969 expedition on the River Nile, joined by cousin, actor Joseph Fiennes.

Egypt With The World’s Greatest Explorer begins on National Geographic later this month, as Sir Ranulph Fiennes returns to the scene of one of his earliest feats – his 1969 expedition along with River Nile.

He is joined by his cousin, actor Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaids Tale, Shakespeare in Love) across three episodes.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes said, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to re-trace the steps of my original expedition in 1969, and this time with my cousin Joe and National Geographic. I know first-hand how fascinating and exhilarating Egypt is for an explorer and I can’t wait to show Joe the ropes and to see how much Egypt has changed in the last 50 years”.

Joseph Fiennes, who also serves as a producer on the series, added: “I am delighted to be embarking on this adventure with National Geographic and my cousin, Ran. It is every young person’s dream to go on an expedition with the world’s great living explorer.”

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is known as the world’s greatest living explorer – a man who has walked unaided to the north pole, discovered a lost city in Oman, and led the only expedition to circumnavigate the globe by land via both poles. 50 years ago, he cut his teeth travelling along the river Nile through Egypt and now he’s returning to the site of this historic journey with his cousin, award-winning star of stage and screen, Joseph Fiennes. The courageous pair will follow the original expedition route and their primary mode of transport, as it was then, is a Land Rover.

Joseph Fiennes, who is best known for his roles on film, stage and television and recently received an Emmy and Sag nomination for his role in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” was excited to undertake this adventure with his cousin and explore the journey he travelled four decades ago.

As Joseph and Ranulph travel south along the Nile it becomes a story of master and apprentice as Joseph is put through his paces by his older cousin. From facing deadly animals and traversing the dunes of the Sahara Desert to spending a night alone inside the Great Pyramid or tracing snake infested tomb raider tunnels to find mummified bodies.

Together they will crawl through the claustrophobic confines of a newly discovered ancient Egyptian tomb in Minya, get to grips with Tachtib – a traditional fighting technique using four foot sticks and come face to face with dangerous snakes and spiders that will test the mettle of even the most hardened adventurer.

Strap in for an exhilarating road trip laid bare for all to see as actor and explorer travel the Nile through a timeless land testing their grit, courage and determination. The magical series also showcases stunningly beautiful and desolate landscapes and reveals the bond between the cousins as they face challenges at every turn. For Ran and Joseph, the journey will be a voyage of discovery as they embark to return to the Nile.

8.30pm Sunday March 31 on National Geographic.

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