Teaser Trailer - Sails 5th November 2025

In 2020 at the height of the pandemic, only one continent remained Covid free - Antarctica. And it was the job of the British Antarctic Survey, and Dr. Rachel Varnam, to keep it that way.  

Determined to restart their essential scientific work, and relieve their isolated staff south of the line, for the first time in decades the Royal Research Ship James Clarke Ross sailed the whole dramatic voyage from the UK to Antarctica with a full team. This would also be her final voyage before retirement and being replaced by the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
  
'The Coldest Shift’ follows the events as they transpired, 5 years ago to the week, as Rachel takes us through how she must be her patient's dentist, radiographer, triage nurse and more, all while being incredibly far from their support team back home. She is in effect a singlehanded emergency medical team. 

This series casts a unique ear on the oft-unseen realities of Antarctic medicine and life at sea on an polar vessel: from the engineers who deal with rodents to prevent environmental contamination to the electricians maintaining the systems that predict space weather to keep the satellites above us safe. And of course, the scientists aboard the ship that has found multiple new species and undersea volcanoes as well as supporting research essential to humanity’s survival. 

Follow Rachel as she brings you an uplifting female led series documenting this final voyage of the Royal Research Ship James Clarke Ross.  

Launches 5th Nov with Episodes 1+2 with a fortnightly release thereafter.

'The Coldest Shift' is a Hat Trick Podcast

Find out more about the British Antarctic Survey at www.bas.ac.uk

Image credit - Rachel Varnam.