Birds of Paradise: The Ultimate Quest

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Frank Gardner and Benedict Allen undertake an incredible journey through Papua New Guinea.

Frank Gardner and Benedict Allen journey through Papua New Guinea. Gardner is pursuing a lifelong dream to see birds of paradise, while Allen is returning to the tribe he abandoned 30 years ago.

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Frank Gardner

Benedict Allen

Simon Davies

Sarah Swingler

Jamie Balment

Dick Colthurst

Tigress Productions

Birds of Paradise: The Ultimate Quest: Series 1: Episode 1

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Episode 1

Series 1

BBC Two - Birds of Paradise: The Ultimate Quest, Series 1, Episode 1

Frank Gardner and Benedict Allen journey through Papua New Guinea to see birds of paradise

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner and explorer Benedict Allen journey through Papua New Guinea, to fulfil Frank's lifelong dream of seeing birds of paradise.

With Frank Gardner and Benedict Allen.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner has dreamed of seeing birds of paradise since he was a young child. But that dream died in 2004 when he was shot by terrorists. A chance meeting with explorer Benedict Allen changed everything. Thirty years ago, Benedict lived in Papua New Guinea with the Niowra, a remote people. They thought he would live amongst them forever, but he abandoned them. Intent on returning, Benedict pledges to take Frank with him.

Together they set out on an incredible journey, through some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet, to make it up into the cloud forest where the birds live. Benedict is determined to get Frank there despite the wheelchair. But as they approach Benedict's old village, brutal secrets from the past come back to haunt him. And Frank hears that in nearby hills he might get an early sighting of a bird of paradise.

Birds of Paradise: The Ultimate Quest: Series 1

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