John Simpson is to teach adventurers Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston how to file news reports from a war-zone in a new BBC series.

The BBC world affairs editor will take the pair to Afghanistan, as he files reports for the BBC News.

In return, the explorers will lead Simpson on the type of trips they are more familiar with, to hone the broadcaster's adventure skills.

Sir Ranulph, whose records have included making the first surface journey around the world's polar axis, will guide the others on a week-long journey to the Arctic Circle in temperatures as low as -50C.

Sir Robin, the first person to sail single-handedly and non-stop around the world, guides the voyage More...

Ranulph Fiennes is one of Britain’s most famous expedition leaders, with such feats under his belt as reaching both poles by surface travel, crossing the Antarctic unsupported, and running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. His most recent accomplishment was scaling the notoriously challenging North Face of the Eiger in Switzerland, despite a fear of heights. Fiennes, now 63, describes these adventures and more in his latest autobiographical book: Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know. Ranulph found time in between adventures to stop into Stanfords to give some more insights into his fascinating life…

How did it start - who were your heroes as a child?

My dad was. He was killed four months before I was born and my mother brought me up on stories about him and the war. He was commander of the Royal Scots Greys regiment and he was killed in Naples. He was definitely my hero and still is. More...