Channel 5 brings Purbeck back on TV with show ‘A Big Steam Adventure’

The Purbeck trio Swanage, Corfe Castle, and Kimmeridge are featured in the newest episode of the wildly popular television series which centres on three celebrities on a nostalgic steam-powered journey through Dorset.

Channel 5's ‘Big Steam Adventure’ is now in its second season with a dedicated following of over a million viewers. It stars popular political journalist and Strictly Come Dancing alum John Sergeant, former Dr. Who star Peter Davison and steam railway director Paul "Piglet" Middleton. Together, they travel across the countryside via an array of steam-powered vehicles.

Scheduled to air at 8 pm on Friday 17th May, the Dorset episode kicks off at Swanage Railway with unexpected challenges along the way. Filming commenced in October 2023 to coincide with the launch of the restored T3 locomotive but faced disruption from Storm Babet. This unprecedented weather unravels the filming schedule as it complicated both sightseeing and travel plans.

A highlight amidst the setbacks, is Peter Davison finding the largest selection of traditional sweets he's ever encountered while sheltering from the at the Corfe Castle shop! This 17th century store has been owned by Roz and James Firmstone since December 2020. Since then, the sweet shop has maintained its longstanding presence on West Street. Notably, it holds a historical connection to Princess Diana's private visit to Corfe Castle in the 1980s.

During their visit, Davison, Middleton and Sergeant depart with several bags of traditional sweets before embarking on an adventure to Kimmeridge Bay aboard Young Buster, a steam-powered Leyland Sherpa van.

Their excursion takes an unexpected turn as Storm Babet unleashes its full fury overnight, complicating their departure from the village. Their mode of transportation being a nine-tonne bus ill-suited for Purbeck Hill’s treacherous roads named Puffing Billy, presents a daunting challenge.

Tune in to see this interesting show set in Dorset unfold on your screen.

Photo Credit: Channel 5