The unique appeal of Alone in the Wild is that Ed is genuinely on his own and viewers will see the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
To help you get to grips with Ed's wilderness experience we've created a handy flash map of Ed's camp. Not only does the map detail Ed's key camera and safety equipment but, by flicking thought the screens you see exactly where in the world Ed is and what he was thinking on a particular day using Google Map and Twitter combined!
If this isn't enough detail for you, you can read more below.
Ed's Camp
How is Ed sending Twitter messages?
The messages will be sent from a locked satellite phone that won't allow outgoing calls or receive incoming calls and sms messages. Only outgoing sms messages can be sent.
How will Ed manage to film himself?
He'll film himself on a variety of different cameras including a pole-cam attached to his rucksack and a remote control camera in his camp that he triggers by stepping on pressure pads. Once a week, he will drop the camera tapes off in a dead-letter box located some distance away from his camp. The letter box content will be picked up by helicopter or float plane and taken back to the UK for immediate editing.
As some of the equipment Ed requires for filming is heavy and we're keen for Ed to have as much freedom to explore as possible, when Ed changes camp he will deposit his filming equipment and forward their co-ordinates and those of his chosen camp. These will be then be collected by float plane and tranported near to Ed's next camp.
How did Ed's expedition start?
Ed was flown to Tin Cup Lake about 60 minutes flying time from Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. He was dropped on the shore before heading inland along a valley called Stay Away Creek to Dog Pack Lake, where he will pick a campsite and start building a base. He will move camera equipment from the landing site to his camp in a series of load shuttles.
How will Ed know where and what to hunt and gather so he does not go hungry?
A First Nation tribe member, Ron Chambers, who has traditional hunting rights in the region, trained Ed in hunting, fishing and shooting locally. A Yukon government expert on Renewable Resources, Bruce Bennett, trained Ed on edible plants and berries, where to look for carbohydrate rich roots and tubers and the poisonous plants to avoid.
How will C4 keep track of Ed?
Every day at 8am Pacific Daylight Time (4pm UK time) Ed will use SPOT to send a message to say he is OK. At the push of a button it will transmit his OK message and GPS position to pre-programmed emails/mobile phones. He will also send a tweet message by specially adapted satellite phone that cannot make or receive calls.
For safety Ed will carry a locating device called SPOT, which will transmit his GPS position every ten minutes to production. Ed will have a back up SPOT handset with the camera gear in case the first malfunctions. If the producers become aware the SPOT device is not working they will arrange for a pilot to fly over Ed and signal that he should phone them.
Upon arrival in the Yukon, Ed will send a daily Twitter informing us of his activities. Despite the isolation, viewers can follow his progress on the web, and he will send a message every 24 hours via Twitter, to check in and register that he is still alive, but will receive no replies. Once camera tapes start arriving in the UK, clips will be supplied on a regular basis for the website alongside supporting features.
What happens if Ed disappears?
If Ed fails to send one of his routine OK messages or his tweet, the producers will alert an experienced local outdoorsman and a bush pilot who runs a seasonal fishing lodge on Tin Cup Lake, 10 miles within range of Ed's expected locations, who is on 24-hour call to help Ed in an emergency. He will overfly Ed's GPS position as determined by his satellite tracking device, and Ed will signal him with a chopper flag. If Ed holds the flag open and still it means 'I'm OK', if he waves the flag vigorously at the airplane it means 'Land as soon and as close as possible'. The pilot may also signal Ed to phone production.
If Ed fails to respond, the pilot will initiate search and rescue operations. He has a float plane available 24/7 to get him as near as possible to Ed’s location.
What happens if Ed is injured?
In the case of a serious, but non life-threatening injury, Ed will use his satellite phone or VHF (Very High Frequency) radio to call for help. They will assess the situation and if necessary fly to Ed's location.
If Ed injures himself away from camp (where his radio and satellite phone will be) the SPOT device (see above) - which he will always have with him - has a second button that sends a message that he is not in imminent danger but needs assistance and gives his GPS position. The pilot will receive the message and wait 1/2 hour for a telephone call from Ed. If he doesn't call, they will attempt to call him. If no contact is made, the pilot will fly over Ed's last reported position, and determine if Ed needs help before landing as closely as possible using the pre-arranged signals (as earlier).
There is an element of judgment about what is a life-threatening emergency. Ed's personalised first aid training is specifically designed to help him make that judgment.
The SPOT device has a third button, which is for life-threatening emergencies. If Ed pushes it, the International Emergency Response Center (IERC) is alerted and they will respond immediately.
