What did you miss?
BBC Breakfast hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt had the pleasure of speaking to Harpeet ‘Preet’ Chandi MBE live from Antarctica via video link on Friday, 27 December’s programme.
A four-fold Guinness World Record holder who most recently became the fastest woman to complete a 700-mile solo skiing expedition to the South Pole, Chandi was being interviewed ahead of her next record-chasing mission in March 2025, when she’ll attempt the first-ever unsupported solo trek to the North Pole.
Munchetty, who’s proven she’s no slouch when it comes to grilling guests, interrupted the trio’s conversation to ask why Chandi wasn’t wearing a scarf in those bitterly cold conditions.
What, how and why?
Setting the scene for Munchetty and Stayt, the British Army medical officer and physiotherapist said: “It’s amazing here. I’ve got 24-hour daylight in the summer season which I’m in now. I think it’s around about -10 [degrees celcius] but there’s a tiny little bit of wind which is making it feel a little bit colder.
“But I mean look at this backdrop, and we’ve got a beautiful day. You can see for miles ahead which is incredible.”
Butting in, former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Munchetty replied: “Can I just say, if it’s -10 plus the windchill factor, why’ve you not got a scarf on and what’s going on? Your jacket’s slightly unzipped. You don’t look as if you’re keeping warm enough…”
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Amused by the TV presenter’s question, Chandi revealed she was actually wearing four layers.
“I’ve got thin layers on underneath and the wind only just came up now, so I’ll probably zip up in a second!” she laughed.
What else did Chandi say during the interview?
Further along, Chandi was asked to explain the differences between the North and South Poles for the layman.
Antarctica is land-based with deadly crevasses to look out for, while the Arctic is distinctive for its floating sea ice atop the Arctic Ocean. Explorers could camp in one spot for the night and find themselves miles off-course in the morning.
“Also, there are polar bears in the Arctic,” noted the BBC Breakfast guest. “One of the first things that I actually learned about Antarctica and the Arctic is that the word ‘arctic’ comes from the Greek word ‘arctus’ – that means ‘bear’, so there’s bears in the Arctic and ‘antarctica’ is ‘anti-bear’. So there’s no bears in Antarctica.”
Stayt commented: “Such a great learning curve for us this morning, it’s fantastic!”
BBC Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am on BBC One.