Tipton ex-forces veteran Karl Hinnett joins SAS stars for brutal Arctic challenge in Channel 4 documentary tonight - when to watch and all the info about the TV programme here

Karl Hinett from Tipton was among the ex-Forces legends tackling trauma, resilience, and the stigma around men’s mental health in the Arctic Ultra fundraiser, which raised £190,000 to support SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.  

The new Channel 4 documentary sees the four elite ex-Forces stars take on one of the toughest ultra-marathons on the planet, with the documentary also shining a light on men’s mental health. 

Arctic Adventure: Ultimate Survival follows Karl as he races to traverse 500km of Swedish Lapland in just 10 days alongside UK Special Forces soldier and star of SAS: Who Dares Wins Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox, former Royal Marines Commando Sniper Aldo Kane and Military Cross recipient Brian Wood.

The team undertook the unsupported Arctic Ultra, aka Project Fire and Ice, in March 2025 to raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. 

It saw them  battle 18-hour days skiing and hiking, enduring harsh terrains in -25°C  temperatures and carrying 45kg of gear, all while negotiating, and openly talking about, their past traumas and the mental health struggles they continue to manage today.  

Karl, who served with the Staffordshire regiment, was just 18-years-old when he sustained life-changing injuries in a petrol bomb attack on his tank in Basra, surviving burns affecting 37 per cent of his body and spending 10 days in an induced coma.

He said the challenge had been a way of showing that it's ok to talk and seek support during tough times.

He said: “Talking is like a superpower when it comes to mental health, and seeking support when we’re going through dark times can save lives. 

"I’ve experienced first-hand the difference a listening ear can make and lost people who didn’t feel safe enough to confide in someone. 

"With Arctic Adventure what began as an endurance challenge became much more; it’s proof that even ‘tough’ guys talk, and no-one should battle alone.” 

The programme will air on Monday, January 19 at 10pm, immediately after  SAS: Who Dares Wins.  

Julie McCarthy, Director of Welfare Operations at SSAFA, said: “As well as watching four friends struggle against the bracing weather and challenging conditions, it is inspiring to also see four ‘tough guys’ openly talking about personal issues that have affected them and how they have learned to cope.   

“There is real power to the honesty shared in the group of friends; as they say themselves, without sharing what’s going on for them at the time it’s most needed, they would not find the help and support they need. Stigma around mental health is still the stumbling block for so many but especially for men, and especially for men in the military community.”