Volunteer Wanted To Retrace Shackleton Expedition

"Men wanted for hazardous duty. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success."

A hundred years ago, a team of men who answered this newspaper ad tried to make it to the South Pole. It was the famous Nimrod Expedition of 1908-9, led by Sir Ernest Shackleton. They made it to within 97 miles of the pole before having to turn back.

Now a new expedition will retrace their route exactly 100 years later, and they're looking for a volunteer. You don't need any previous experience as an explorer, but you do have to answer a battery of questions, beat the other candidates at an endurance test, and undergo ice training by crossing Baffin Island. The winner will get to join the expedition 97 miles north of the pole, just where the first expedition turned back. This time they plan to make it all the way.

Think you're up for it? You can apply here.

Oh, expect to endure temperatures of -35 degrees Celsius and have to haul a 100 lb sled over rough ice. You also need to be a resident of the UK, so sadly you won't have any competition from me.