Discovery orders survivalist series from October

The US Discovery Channel has ordered Trailblazers, a show following elite survivalists as they explore dangerous parts of the world looking for clues and evidence that will lead to scientific breakthroughs.

The six-part series will follow three survival experts, each leading a team of scientists into dangerous locations including Papua New Guinea, the Bolivian jungle and Ecuador.

Transatlantic indie October Films, which recently invested in new unscripted indie Talos Films, is making the series. October’s head of US factual, Chris Muckle, at the indie said: ‘I’m very proud that Discovery is backing us to deliver this ambitious new series; following some of the world’s bravest scientists, putting their lives on the line to push back the frontiers of human knowledge.

“In the most dangerous places on Earth, the most amazing discoveries are waiting to be made.  It’s the kind of bold and authentic TV that October is completely committed to.”

Discovery has fully funded the series and retains international rights. It is the third recent programme win for October, which has also ordered ‘human herd’ format Mygrations for Nat Geo and History doc series Barbarians Rising.