Ash Dykes: Bringing Modern Exploration Back to UK Television
Five-time world record holder Ash Dykes featured on INTRAVEL as part of Samsung TV Plus UK marathon
January 22, 2026
When it comes to contemporary exploration, Ash Dykes stands apart.
British world-record holder, international explorer and extreme adventure creator, Ash Dykes, has built a reputation for undertaking some of the world’s most demanding long-form expeditions and journeys that test physical limits, while revealing the cultural and human stories shaped by the landscapes. From the Amazon, rainforest to the vast interior of China, his work combines endurance, curiosity and a deep respect.
UK audiences experienced that approach on Insight TV's INTRAVEL channel, with The Great Wall with Ash Dykes airing as a dedicated marathon on Samsung TV Plus.
Ash Dykes on Instagram: "THIS IS IT!!!! 🇬🇧🚀 The Great Wall with Ash Dykes is airing at 6pm tonight!
A different kind of exploration
In an era dominated by fast, presenter-led travel content, Ash Dykes offers something increasingly rare: Commitment.
Ash Dykes:
"Tonight, regardless of all the delays and excuses over the years, Samsung TV Plus and INTRAVEL have stepped up and become the first to air one of my shows in the UK. Absolute legends."
📺 Saturday 10th Jan
⏰ 6:00pm to 10:30pm
📡 Samsung TV Plus
📍 INTRAVEL channel (4526)
His expeditions are not brief encounters but months-long undertakings that demand preparation, immersion and adaptability. Rather than passing through environments, Ash seeks to understand them, physically, historically and culturally. That approach has earned him five world records, international recognition and a global following inspired by his willingness to step beyond comfort zones.
The Great Wall with Ash Dykes reflects this philosophy. Filmed across the full length of one of the world’s most iconic structures, Ash uncovers the geography, history and human endeavour that intertwine across thousands of miles.
Promo forThe Great Wall with Ash Dykes across Samsung TV Plus UK.
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Finding an audience on Samsung TV Plus
The Great Wall with Ash Dykes reached UK audiences via Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s free, ad-supported streaming service is available globally reaching more than 100 million monthly users, spanning Samsung Smart TVs, smartphones and web.
The dedicated Great Wall with Ash Dykes marathon delivered a strong performance on the platform, resulting in an over 40% increase in viewership on Insight TV’s INTRAVEL channel, compared with the channel’s usual average at that time. The uplift highlights the effectiveness of marathon-style scheduling and the appetite for great talent and long-form exploration content within the FAST environment.
Ash Dykes: "On Saturday night, my show finally aired in the UK. And the response honestly blew me away."
From the Great Wall to the Yellow River
The Great Wall was not the end of the story.
Insight TV is currently working with Ash Dykes on his next major factual television project, Ash Dykes: Yellow River Adventure, a three-part, 60-minute series produced by One Tribe TV in partnership with CCTV and CICC, and scheduled for delivery in 2026. Already a household name in China, the Yellow River journey will mark Ash Dykes’ third major expedition in the country.
Often referred to as the “Mother River of China”, the Yellow River is one of the most important and complex waterways in human history. The series will follow Ash across approximately 3,400 miles across land, sea, and air.
Speaking about the project, Ash said:
“The Yellow River is often described as the lifeblood of Chinese civilisation, and China has always felt like a second home to me. Having previously walked its southern brother, the Yangtze, this feels like a natural next step.”
“This expedition is about showing the river as it truly is, its vast scale, its history and its importance today. Choosing the right way to travel at the right time is key to telling that story properly.”
A track record of world-first expeditions
Recognised as one of the world’s leading extreme adventure athletes, Ash is known for pushing human endurance in some of the planet’s most hostile environments, committing and exploring like no other.
Key world-first expeditions include:
- Mongolia (2014): First solo, unsupported crossing on foot: 1,500 miles hauling a 120kg trailer through the Gobi Desert, a world first in recorded history.
- Madagascar (2016): First person to trek the full length of the island (1,600 miles), navigating extreme terrain, disease and remote conditions.
- Yangtze River, China (2019): First person to hike the entire length of Asia’s longest river: 4,000 miles over 352 days. The series aired internationally on National Geographic, reportedly reaching 1.1 billion people worldwide, and led to Ash becoming the first and only Welshman to appear on The Joe Rogan Experience.
- Amazon Rainforest (2024): Two world-first expeditions, including the discovery of the previously undocumented source of the Coppename River in Suriname.
Investing in long-term exploration storytelling
With The Great Wall with Ash Dykes now reaching UK audiences and the Yellow River expedition underway, Insight TV and Ash Dykes are extending a partnership built on ambition, depth and global storytelling.
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