"Two friends, two bikes, and fifteen thousand miles through the heart of Africa."
Following the global success of Long Way Round, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman returned in 2007 for Long Way Down. This ambitious BBC Two production documented their 15,000-mile journey from the northern tip of Scotland to the southern edge of Africa. While the scale of the expedition was immense, the series resonated through its focus on the evolving bond between the two friends and their encounters with diverse cultures. From the challenging terrain of Ethiopia to the emotional visits to UNICEF projects, the show provided a raw look at international travel. It remains a definitive entry in the travelogue genre, illustrating the logistical complexities of transcontinental motorcycling while maintaining a grounded, human perspective on the vast landscapes of the African continent.
| # | Air Date | Episode Name | Watched? |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Oct 28, 2007 | Episode 1 | |
| E2 | Nov 04, 2007 | Episode 2 | |
| E3 | Nov 11, 2007 | Episode 3 | |
| E4 | Nov 18, 2007 | Episode 4 | |
| E5 | Nov 25, 2007 | Episode 5 | |
| E6 | Dec 02, 2007 | Episode 6 |
Production Type: Limited Series
Long Way Down is a standalone Limited Series that concluded its 6-episode run in September 2007. This production followed Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on an ambitious motorcycle journey spanning fifteen thousand miles from northern Scotland to the southern tip of Africa. The scale of the project required eighteen months of preparation, involving a support crew and custom-built motorcycles to navigate diverse terrains and geopolitical borders across two continents.
This story was designed with a definitive conclusion because it centered on a specific geographical objective rather than an ongoing narrative. Once the duo reached Cape Town, the logistical and thematic purpose of the expedition was fulfilled, marking the end of this specific chapter in their travel trilogy. The series serves as a complete document of a singular trek, ensuring that the narrative arc closed naturally with the arrival at the final destination.