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Relative 'excited' by new Shackleton TV documentary

Andrew Turner/BBC Georgia Shackleton, wearing a blue t-shirt, denim jacket, and glasses, has blonde hair. She is standing next to the River Yare in Great Yarmouth. There is a block of flats in the background.Andrew Turner/BBC
Georgia Shackleton, who claims shared ancestry with Ernest, hopes the documentary will unearth more stories of his adventure

A distant relative of the Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton has said a new TV documentary could shed more light on his adventures.

During his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, Shackleton and his crew had to make a heroic escape on foot and in small boats after the ship Endurance was crushed by sea ice.

Endurance, due for release on Friday by National Geographic, follows the divers who discovered the lost vessel, which went down in November1915.

Georgia Shackleton, from Norfolk, who claims to have shared ancestry with Ernest, said: "It's going to be really exciting to see the footage of the Endurance and the people trying to bring it up."

Phillipe Barbe The Shackleton Trio, performing on a stage with coloured lights and decorations, playing instruments. Central in the image is Georgia, playing a violin, wearing a blue and black dress, with black leggings and boots. Her partner, Aaron Bennett is to the right, playing a guitar. He is dressed in a black top and faded black jeans. A third member of the band is on the left and he is wearing a brown shirt and black trousers, playing a banjo.Phillipe Barbe
The Shackleton Trio, with Georgia Shackleton centre stage, performs songs written by the Antarctic explorer

She said: "It's always amazing to hear anything about Shackleton's struggle.

"I'm quite keen to know the stories and see [expedition photographer] Frank Hurley's footage brought back into colour.

"I think that will make it so people today can relate to the struggle and the hardship they were going through.

"But I'm also really keen to learn the story of the people trying to bring the boat up after it was found. I think it's going to be fascinating."

Getty Images A black-and-white picture of Ernest Shackleton. He is standing on the deck of a ship wearing a hat, jacket, tie and a waistcoat. Two other men, wearing similar attire, can be seen in the background.Getty Images
The explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton

She and her partner Aaron Bennett play in a folk band called The Shackleton Trio. Their repertoire includes songs written by the explorer.

Andrew Turner/BBC Aaron Bennett, wearing a blue striped shirt. His hair is tied back, he's bearded and has a pierced lower lip. Georgia is standing to the right. She has blonde hair, blowing in the wind, and is wearing glasses, a blue t-shirt and blue denim jacket. They are standing next to the River Yare in Great Yarmouth, with Haven Bridge in the background.Andrew Turner/BBC
Aaron Bennett and Georgia Shackleton hope the new documentary will both celebrate and explain Ernest Shackleton's work in the Antarctic

Miss Shackleton, who has said her shared ancestry dates back to the 17th century, said she believes she and Ernest share some traits, adding: "There's certainly strong Shackleton features that have travelled down the line.

"I think Shackleton and his crew members would have been really keen for the story to be told in as much detail as possible... trying to put that in line with what they might be doing today if they were alive.

"I think they might be doing a lot about climate struggle and climate awareness and saving our poor declining marine life.

"Anything that celebrates the age of polar expedition I think they would be cheering on."

Listen: A new documentary hopes to shed more light on Ernest Shackleton’s work

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