Greg Jenner

It's the one that we're probably going to focus the rest of this episode on. Can you talk us through this Franklin chap? Who is Sir John Franklin?

It's the one that we're probably going to focus the rest of this episode on. Can you talk us through this Franklin chap? Who is Sir John Franklin?

So, Stu, he sounds perfect for an Arctic exploration, but maybe not so good for running a colony.

So, Stu, he sounds perfect for an Arctic exploration, but maybe not so good for running a colony.

Sounds like the Scooby gang would have a field day with that. So he sounds like he should be top of the list for candidates being drawn up to lead this latest expedition. Is he the kind of number one go-to guy? He's not even close. Really?

Sounds like the Scooby gang would have a field day with that. So he sounds like he should be top of the list for candidates being drawn up to lead this latest expedition. Is he the kind of number one go-to guy? He's not even close. Really?

Oh, that's so wonderfully tense.

Oh, that's so wonderfully tense.

Okay, so we have an illustrious explorer, but he's had a bit of a bad time of it six years off. He was at the bottom of the list. The other guy wanted the job, was offered the job, but turned the job down out of modesty and is now second in charge. And meanwhile, they've named their ships. Was he Jared Harris in The Terror? He might be. Yeah, I think he was.

Okay, so we have an illustrious explorer, but he's had a bit of a bad time of it six years off. He was at the bottom of the list. The other guy wanted the job, was offered the job, but turned the job down out of modesty and is now second in charge. And meanwhile, they've named their ships. Was he Jared Harris in The Terror? He might be. Yeah, I think he was.

But they've also named their ships the Terror and Erebus, Erebus being the Greek god of darkness and the underworld.

But they've also named their ships the Terror and Erebus, Erebus being the Greek god of darkness and the underworld.

It really is, isn't it? These are not inspiring names. I prefer Discovery. Even Matthew was sort of nice.

It really is, isn't it? These are not inspiring names. I prefer Discovery. Even Matthew was sort of nice.

The Terror and Erebus.

The Terror and Erebus.

So Crozier is captaining the Terror, and Franklin is captaining the Erebus and the overall mission. And off they go. And these are not ordinary naval ships. They're naval vessels.

So Crozier is captaining the Terror, and Franklin is captaining the Erebus and the overall mission. And off they go. And these are not ordinary naval ships. They're naval vessels.

So these are ice breaking ships. These are steel hulled. They're no longer sail. I mean, they presumably might have sails. They have sails.

So these are ice breaking ships. These are steel hulled. They're no longer sail. I mean, they presumably might have sails. They have sails.