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New Documentary With Unprecedented Access To Chernobyl Disaster Zone Gets Release Date

New Documentary With Unprecedented Access To Chernobyl Disaster Zone Gets Release Date

​If you were hooked to Sky Atlantic series, ​Chernobyl​, you'll love this.

Lucy Devine

Lucy Devine

If you were hooked to Sky Atlantic series, Chernobyl, which aired back in 2019, good news. Channel 5 is releasing a brand new documentary, fronted by Ben Fogle, which delves into the disaster.

Ben Fogle: Inside Chernobyl, follows the presenter and adventurer as he spends a week living inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, 35 years on from the shocking nuclear accident.

And now, Channel 5 has announced a release date for the doc - and it's mega soon.

The documentary will air on Channel 5 on Wednesday 3rd March at 9pm (
Channel 5)

The 90-minute documentary will air on Channel 5 on Wednesday 3rd March at 9pm. The doc will delve into the devastating events which took place on 26th April 1986, when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant suffered a huge explosion.

As a result of the disaster, radioactive material was released across Belarus, Russia and Ukraine - and even as far as western Europe.

The documentary will see Ben living inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone - aka the area immediately surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant - for seven days.

Incredibly, cameras have been granted access into the plant itself - including inside Control Room 4, where the events unfolded - as well as the deserted towns and forests in surrounding areas.

Ben must only spend just five minutes inside the control room, due to radiation safety restrictions.

Ben must only spend just five minutes inside the control room (
Channel 5)

Speaking about the documentary, Ben wrote on Instagram: "With unprecedented access, I explore the hope after the meltdown. Meeting the people who returned both legally and illegally to live off grid in the vast exclusion zone.

"And following the wildlife that has returned to this once toxic landscape. As the world recoils from the pandemic and climate change, what lessons of hope can we learn from the aftermath of the 1986 disaster that threatened the world?

"Getting inside the reactor and even into Control Room Number 4, I will meet the thousands of workers who still work at the plant to contain the fallout.

"I explore the legacy of Chernobyl as Ukraine seek UNESCO world Heritage status for its unique historical relevance."

Ben also meets the 'Self Settlers', who returned home following the evacuation (
Channel 5)

During the special, Ben will also visit the remains of Hospital 126, as well as meeting with a police officer who was on duty the night of the disaster and witnessed the explosion.

Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes following the disaster and during the new film, Ben also meets the 'Self Settlers', who returned home following the evacuation.

Ben Fogle: Inside Chernobyl airs on Wednesday 3rd March, at 9pm on Channel 5. It certainly sounds like a gripping watch...

Featured Image Credit: Channel 5/PA

Topics: TV News, Chernobyl, Channel 5