Episode 2 Ben & James Versus the Arabian Desert

and adventurer Ben Fogle

sand desert in the world...

of legendary British explorer

their Oman expedition

beset with problems.

don't work very well.

on the hand...

so we can BLEEP go home. Come on.

BLEEP you.

at everything we try to do.

one of the world's toughest deserts.

and I don't have any food.

for company...

over the next two days.

James! James! James!

has only just begun.

fourth day in the Arabian Desert.

to check on the state team have been called in

just to make sure it went down.

to the bone only 24 hours ago.

Might sting a bit. a more serious infection.

Yeah. Strap a pair on, Fergal.

I'm pleased. I'm pleased.

in my mouth or something. Ahh.

third expedition together.

crossed the Atlantic Ocean

this is not a race.

a lost friendship.

James with a serious brain injury.

seeing my family again,

of the excitement for me.

to Ben, to family,

yeah, he's back, a tough time, that,

and in three years, he's had hardly programme of rehabilitation

over the last few years

"It's not just you. There are lots "Ben, don't take it personally.

that finally,

Good morning, boys. where we are in our friendship.

To let them go fast, want them to go fast or not. OK.

seems to struggle But James's larger frame

during the high heat of summer.

to get to know each other to get a third trip,

if we start something, we finish it.

So the romantic notion is not Quarter. Did he walk it? No.

I'd love Ben to stop doing friendship has changed.

opinion.

perceive that, but I also need it's how people are going to

telling him he has to do this.

Just say it rather than say, "If I'm saying "if you're to be honest".

Mussallem has already You got a bigger hug than me!

Wow. This already looks amazing. designed for James's large frame.

my undercarriage. My balls.

That's pretty good. I reckon how was it between your legs?

Everything must be packed there is no time to acclimatise.

So, everything is set up for us, saddles ready.

because we are running out of with apprehension,

and now we've got to deliver which didn't go well,

Since Ben's injury,

Keep it simple. Yes, yes.

What are you doing? It's delicious. our camel meat there.

dates and flatbread,

as the first trip.

If we work together, it'll be fine.

all the work and I just hang around.

they are now carrying riding helmets

about water.

if I predict something that's going which I probably shouldn't do,

something like that,

but it's 47 during the day out here.

This new journey is ambitious,

he rarely made long expeditions in the Empty Quarter,

just radiating out.

I don't think it really matters.

Hot, and very hot out here.

walking next to me

should be fanning you in some way.

James and Ben are determined a team of Bedouins to support him,

and navigating by map and compass.

and because I haven't got to the East mostly today

and use their sunglasses,

like an American football player.

beforehand, with your skirt,

The problem is, I've never put We just need a wig.

spirits are remarkably high.

disrupt the trip for everyone Come on, give me a hug. Give me control, it's my mood.

Can I hit you with my stick? so if I am, just say.

Is that bad form? Am I ruining it?

No, no, I'm just saying...

You didn't talk about this

home birthing and hypno birthing,

in your bucket

in the other person's bucket.

either call me a grumpy idiot

OK. And I'll know what you mean.

I think we've done two more hours.

Well, I don't know.

then. You were, you were, yeah.

Empty it out. Sorry, dude.

Are you loving life?

with a guy in a cut off dishdasha

who looks like a drag queen.

get some bad looks at the well.

they decide to make camp.

I was finding it tougher today

out here last time, definitely.

were tiring, you know.

tired in the desert than me,

We can feel drained.

It's a good look, James, by the way. and they're built for the desert.

some bikini-clad girl.

though. You'd be a lot poorer.

me and this for nothing. Eh?

to cheat on you, little man.

We've come straight from London.

and yet...

James and I, James in particular,

frame of mind now.

the full distance we wanted.

as were we,

to stop a little bit earlier,

a military camp 40km away,

hours of the morning

new saddles.

No, I'm OK, actually.

OK. I'm worried.

my legs won't lift up.

so I have some vague control.

tch, tch, tch, tch, tch...

Just one of the buckles broke off.

already.

their first test

are evaporating.

The metal's actually snapped.

while we're walking,

with a jigsaw puzzle, I reckon.

things go from bad to worse.

You know what? Stuff goes on out

Well caught. I've got less sympathy A long way to the well.

If he's got that much energy

I'm going to drop. I'm just saying. to lag behind.

No, we'll stop. We'll stop.

semi-collapsing on the ground,

It's ridiculous that the camels The camels and I are wilting.

I can run in 40 minutes.

and that's...

across a sand dune.

it has to be.

you're a bloody good athlete.

made for the desert, but...

than me. But, yeah, you're right.

the end of the day, so they must enough water to last them to

collapse in the sand

and go to sleep for half an hour.

at about five,

for more than 12 hours.

They walk without rest

just before sunset.

This is a sandstorm.

of the military base.

when we really had pushed ourselves.

cos there's no point going on

where we're going.

to the well tonight,

before the camels have water.

of energy from me, the camels, Ben.

and run out of food.

as yet no sign of the camp, so...

If it's not, a better place when we get there.

of the desert summer.

and mentally drained.

makes to the whole desert experience.

I don't really understand camels.

desert and they were rubbish today.

or the sand was too hot.

The sand's hot?

in the desert. Oh, hang on.

in someone else's bucket, then,

I can't wait for tomorrow,

absolutely fantastic.

that's for sure.

we had before? Well, yeah.

have 200 kilometres ahead of them.

this little dot just here.

that we want to follow all the way

all the way up here,

up here, all the way to that point.

where we'll get water.

over 100 kilometres away.

spent between wells.

that's the military base.

course of about 30 degrees

still rising every day,

enough water to survive any delays.

if we get there at midnight,

obviously, it doesn't matter.

we've just got to get there, so...

very long, thirsty, hot day.

long desert expeditions.

the modern ship of the desert.

beginning to unravel.

Coming off, coming off.

What happened, mate?

trapped around his leg and me,

They're animals, aren't they?

dealing with an animal -

it's an animal that's totally...

Over that way. That way.

only 10 kilometres.

little rest of my legs, so unfair.

endless battle here.

goes according to plan,

You're an unfit camel.

you're not good for us. All right?

for a desert camel.

attitudes towards their animals.

You happy to go on?

I know you don't want to.

rather than the stick.

we only have a stick, and that means

and water pressure, you know,

HE GRUNTS

You OK? A-a-argh!

James, James, James, calm down.

Wasn't the softest landing.

the better.

that seething anger,

has, the more aggressive he becomes.

It puts pressure on it,

put pressure on a friendship.

the strain of the journey

in their characters.

the gap between them remains.

to punch a camel on the jaw

come off way worse,

get angry and I know from, you know,

as a sportsman,

I'm a realist when it comes to be in a team with.

in every sense of the word.

or what weaknesses there were, what weaknesses there are,

I've been quite surprised myself.

of the weather, the heat,

know what we're doing out here,

and the camels were,

and...

It'll flatten out,

until it happens.

and I need to stop that,

into other people's buckets

Woo-hoo!

We are jogging nice and easy. the camels are feeling fresh.

if the camera breaks.

Hence the not-very-good picture,

I'm happy. Ben's happy.

the camels.

since just after dawn.

It's like they're different I've got a massive smile on my face.

I could sing to you now some cloud cover so it's not as hot.

It's been quite exhilarating,

is to stop for a break in the sun

James and Ben have had the best

we really are up against a deadline,

They travel for an astonishing

pushing 45 degrees.

I'm feeling them not want to walk as I'm pulling them now.

I can just hear, talking to you,

than it started the day,

on empty in terms of water.

is a large oil well

when he entered the Empty Quarter he was escaping from

Anyone would think that we've the well brings life-saving water.

How are you? Hello, very well. Hello. Salam alaikum.

We've got some big bags to fill up.

drinking it,

But simmering tensions They've had a successful day.

You're also lying, Ben. to start heading out into the dark.

I would prefer not to sleep next to I would.

You know what? You're lying, dude, for the camera.

I am now out here on my own.

HE LAUGHS

I think why I got

Why would he even question

that I would prefer to sleep out James said to me that I was lying,

a video-diary camera there.

anyway because...

was blown apart by a comment by me

before we start another day.

on a sad note.

from my side or anything,

I wanted the day to end

James, the reason I got frustrated and honest with each other.

James and Ben are

But I think my interpretation

in the conversation is worse.

is me, being me.

little changes

might not notice, I do.

And I suppose I'm now beginning to misunderstanding things.

I think we've come down...

I would say we turn back,

threatening to topple their camels.

he hates it when the others go off.

we really are lost,

our water, everything.

are up, he's looking around.

go very fast in a second

supposed to come down that.

we can do it, we can do it. Yeah.

them down one at a time.

about bringing them down that.

to be a news story -

in desert basin.

carrying the saddles out.

we've moved on. Yeah.

than they fell over at last time.

a tediously slow progress.

up and down.

we were going to be stuck.

a case of calling Mussallem

clouds that come and go,

have lifted for a bit.

JAMES LAUGHS

we were tested physically.

that frustration got on top of us

of a situation

and the stress of the day?

misreading the subtleties the aspect of

has this on a daily basis -

or a snapped answer?

when I'm tired, I think...

self-analytical

a reaction you haven't had before.

I have to think about.

as well, it adds to it.

each other again, mate. Yeah.

good progress through the dunes,

than on any other day.

last night

been able to work together today,

I feel.

conquests along the way

of stepping stones.

of stepping stones

quite an emotional one.

the first time we both...

about James today.

also had the most efficient day.

of their journey.

the space to talk.

60km from the quicksands.

at the difference in you.

I'm sure your negativity that I've found hardest -

And in terms of the cloud, to have felt that or said that.

Because you may, and rightly so,

But...

and Bev have seen me... Mm.

And that's, you know, And they see me every day.

And in the same way, I don't want for the last three.

But it's great spending time and you build your life from that.

..knew me before, knows me

And I think that's been to front up and see them.

I felt I'd lost you through the trip, as well.

And I feel I've kind of found you

You can do that in your sleep. 60, it's nothing. Nothing!

Do you want a little bit What do you think?

I don't want you to look old! OK.

So long, camp.

# Oh-dinay, oh-dinay

# Oh-dinay, oh-dinay. #

we are making.

and the thirst threshold. Last day!

sniggering away.

they were hoping for.

And a little bit of our, a thoroughly worthwhile journey.

And that's, you know, has been rebuilt.

of satisfaction

I'm leaving with my pride the camel and this time, certainly,

Ben's public image,

there is there.

"Aw, he's a nice guy."

the nicest people I know.

but he's one of competitive people I know

and achieve his goals.

a real positive combination.

learning from, to be honest.

always about trapping James

we've cried. You name it.

the map of where we're heading,

three camel bites and a broken rib,

the quicksands

if you'd seen this first up,

of the Somme

he was amazed by it. But...

Stuck it out, man.

I haven't got a sense of smell

not smell that great.

to hug the camels!

a week.

I tell you, these nether parts...

going "tsss" off my undercarriage,

carbonated drink.

of water. That would be...

You dream big! I do.