November 2nd 2024.
TV historian Dan Snow recently embarked on the expedition of a lifetime, calling it the "pinnacle of his career" without hesitation. After two decades of acclaimed work, Dan explained why uncovering Ernest Shackleton's 100-year-old shipwreck was the "best thing he's ever done."
The expedition was documented in National Geographic's new film "Endurance," directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. The film follows the legendary British explorer's incredible tale of survival in 1915 as he and his 27 crew members became stranded in Antarctica after their ship, also named Endurance, sank in the icy waters of the Weddell Sea. For months, they endured harrowing conditions, but miraculously, every single person returned home alive after 750 days of struggle, with only a few missing toes.
Over a century later, the Endurance22 team set out on a near-impossible mission to find the shipwreck and honor Ernest's legacy. Dan was aboard the ship, witnessing history unfold before his eyes. In an interview ahead of the film's world premiere at the London Film Festival, he shared, "It was just a dream come true for me."
Dan's love for history began at a young age, with his family often telling him stories. He recalled how his grandma would share wonderful tales, sparking his fascination with history that continues to this day. "Shackleton's one of those names you hear about as a legendary explorer," he said. "But I never thought that 40 years after hearing those stories, I would be standing on the ice 10,000 feet above where his ship lay on the seabed below."
The 2022 expedition was not without pressure, as the first attempt in 2019 had failed miserably, resulting in millions of dollars in damaged equipment. The second attempt, led by polar geographer Dr. John Shears, subsea engineer Nico Vincent, and maritime archaeologist Mensun Bound, was also in danger of failing until they miraculously discovered the ship just hours before the expedition's end. The whole world rejoiced at the historic news.
Dan admitted that there was a strange layer of "guilt" surrounding the discovery, as it came just 10 days after Russia invaded Ukraine. "Everyone was very disappointed and sad and scared about the world," he said. "But then you realize this is what makes us human. These ventures, these stories, these images in the seabed, these people working together to push to the stars and push the depths of the ocean. That is inspiring people."
When asked about the point of these expeditions, Dan pushed back, stating, "Why does the Mona Lisa exist? It just gives people enormous happiness. We can't explain it. It lifts people's eyes up from the daily grind a bit and gives them something to be excited about. We shouldn't be ashamed of that."
The Bafta-winning broadcaster, who has also received an MBE for his services to history, feels he has officially peaked with this expedition. "It was the pinnacle of my career," he said. "It's the best thing I've ever done by miles." He reminisced about how, as a child, he dreamed of traversing the ocean like Captain Cook, and now, he has fulfilled that dream. "I thought that young Dan would be quite happy and think, 'The old guy's done all right'," he laughed.
But even with his achievements, Dan knows that he had it easier than Ernest and his men. He was kept "cosy" on board the ship, while the crew braved rough weather and extreme conditions. He admitted, "My lesson there is, I have no idea how they lived on the ice for months and months."
The documentary also uses AI technology to recreate the voices of Ernest and his men, who kept detailed diaries of their voyage. Producer Ruth Johnston shared, "For the first time ever, you're hearing them tell their own story in their own words, in their own voices." Dan added that it was an incredible way to be authentic to these men and that he believes AI will transform the industry in ways we can only dream of now.
He even believes that in a few years, we could potentially have a conversation with historical figures like Horatio Nelson, thanks to AI and archives. "There is now a decent chance that we will be able to use AI to create a version of that person who you could conduct a conversation with," he said.
For now, Dan is content with exploring the world of maritime history, one shipwreck at a time. "Endurance" is now available to watch on Disney+. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, get in touch with the entertainment team. They'd love to hear from you.
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