A polar explorer, celebrity chef and Devon wine maker feature in a BBC One show celebrating the River Dart.

Presenter Jemma Woodman follows the dazzling river from its origins on a Fox Tor ire wreathed in frost, exploring the eerie plateau which was once home to a bustling mining community, but is now silent and empty.

And she ends her journey sharing locally-caught, marinated mackerel on a boat in Dartmouth with celebrity chef Mitch Tonks.

River Walks is made especially for viewers in the South West, but is available nationwide on iPlayer after it airs on Monday night.

Along her journey, Jemma has an explorer’s breakfast with Pen Hadow - who trained for his epic polar journeys on the wild hills of Dartmoor – and takes a dip in 6°C water with a hardy bunch of wild swimmers who brave the frigid river all year round.

Later she goes foraging with a wild food expert, eats sausage and eggs cooked on a shovel over a steam engine’s fire and samples wine made just a stone’s throw from the river.

Jemma describes the Dart as “one of our most varied and picturesque rivers, one that feeds the imagination and the appetite of those lucky enough to call this corner of Britain home”.

Her words are echoed by Mitch who said: “The older I get and the more time I spend on the river – it never ceases to amaze me how magical it is.”

River Walks will air at 7.30pm on BBC One South West today, Monday, December 10, and will be available on the iPlayer immediately afterwards.

The show is one of 11 made for the different regions of England. All episodes will play at the same time in their regions and will be available as a box-set online afterwards.

The Dart episode has been picked to play country-wide on BBC One HD.