Tag: BBC Alba

Edinburgh-born musician Robbie Greig joins new BBC Gaelic quiz show

An Edinburgh-born musician will soon be appearing on screens across Scotland, as Robbie Greig takes part in BBC ALBA’s brand-new Gaelic quiz show, Mas Fhìor.

Marking BBC ALBA’s first step into high-energy studio gameshows, Mas Fhior (pronounced “masheer”) is a bold, home-grown Gaelic entertainment format produced in partnership with Glasgow-based BEEZR Studios and Screen Scotland.

Launching on BBC ALBA on Tuesday 17 February 2026, Mas Fhìor is a 12-part, fast-paced studio quiz where pairs of Gaelic-speaking contestants from across the UK must decide what’s true, what’s false and, crucially, who they can trust.

Taking its name from the Gaelic slang phrase meaning “as if”, the show tests confidence, credibility and quick thinking as the pressure builds and the truth becomes harder to spot.

Robbie is one of eight new faces who appear across the series as the show’s Pretenders – known in Gaelic as the Mas Fhìoraich – joining the action remotely from home and playing a key role in testing the instincts and judgement of the competing teams. Armed with convincing delivery and quick reactions, the Mas Fhiorach challenge contestants each episode to weigh up credibility as the game unfolds.

Music sits at the heart of Robbie’s life. A multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, banjo, fiddle and sings, he performs full-time across three folk bands while also working regularly as a session musician and teacher. His career has taken him around the world, and his skill as a fiddle player was recognised with the Niel Gow Scottish Fiddle Award.

Born and brought up in Edinburgh, Robbie followed his passion for traditional music to Benbecula at just 16, studying for an HNC in Traditional Music Performance before going on to achieve a first-class honours degree in Applied Music. He has since settled in Glasgow, where he continues to thrive in Scotland’s busy traditional music scene. While rooted in Gaelic and traditional music, his listening tastes are wide-ranging, spanning African music, jazz and country pop.

Robbie Greig said: “Taking part in Mas Fhìor was a brilliant experience and completely different from anything I do day to day. It was really challenging trying to keep my story straight under pressure.

“It’s a fun and entertaining show and perfect for watching along and guessing who’s telling the truth.”

Recorded at Night Sky Studios in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, the series is hosted by popular BBC ALBA and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal presenter Niall Iain MacDonald, whose quick-witted, fast-talking style keeps the pace high and the pressure firmly on.

Produced by entertainment powerhouse BEEZR Studios and directed by quiz show veteran John Smith, Mas Fhìor adds to BBC ALBA’s ongoing commitment to original entertainment, while supporting the continued growth of Scotland’s screen sector.

Bill MacLeod, Commissioning Editor at BBC ALBA, said: “Mas Fhìor is an unapologetically entertaining quiz format – perfectly tailored for Gaelic viewers but with a universal appeal.

“Viewers will want to lean in and play along – all the while getting to know the quirky personalities of our regular panel of ‘Pretenders’. The new show really underlines our commitment to delivering original, high-production-value entertainment.

“We’re thrilled that the creative team at BEEZR Studios have developed this unique, home-grown format specially for BBC ALBA and we’re especially grateful for the support of Screen Scotland in its development and production.

“With a cast of amazing Gaels from across the country and a quick-witted, fast-talking host in the shape of Niall Iain, Mas Fhìor promises to be another example of world-class TV and original entertainment from Scotland.”

Alasdair MacCuish, Executive Producer at Beezr Studios:“Mas Fhìor was developed with BBC ALBA’s audience firmly in mind – a fast, fun quiz that rewards personality, quick thinking and a love of language as much as general knowledge.

“Working with BBC ALBA and Screen Scotland, Beezr has created an innovative and bold new format, which takes advantage new technology to bring scale and ambition. As a result, Mas Fhìor feels fresh and contemporary whilst being squarely rooted in communities across Scotland.” 

Emily Orr from Screen Scotland said: “It’s fantastic to be able to support the team at BEEZR Studios to showcase their abilities across this new format and we can’t waitfor audiences to enjoy Mas Fhìor.”

Mas Fhìor will broadcast on BBC ALBA from Tuesday 17 February 2026, with new episodes airing weekly.

Sona: BBC ALBA lets off steam in new sauna culture series

BBC ALBA is set to explore the wellness trend taking off in Scotland in a brand-new series, Sona.

Launching exclusively on BBC iPlayer tonight (Saturday 30 August) at 10pm, viewers can relax and unwind with presenters and close friends, Vicky Kilgour and Duncan MacDonald, as the pair embark on a wellbeing journey, sampling saunas and wellness activities along Scotland’s west coast – from Argyll to Duncan’s homeland on the Isle of Skye.

Sona – meaning ‘happy’ in Scottish Gaelic – uncovers friendship, open conversations and finding the path to true personal wellbeing through this growing wellness movement. 

From boosting cardiovascular health to reducing stress, saunas are increasingly recognised as a tonic for supporting both the body and the mind. And with Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden recently ranked as the world’s happiest nations in The World Happiness Report 2025, all having saunas at the centre of their daily lives, Vicky and Duncan explore whether Scotland can find its own version of health and happiness in this funny, heartfelt, honest and at times, moving series.

Along their quest to find ultimate contentment, sauna evangelist Vicky shares her happy place with her friend Duncan – a sauna novice and someone whose happy-go-lucky nature and endless curiosity mean he is always looking for the next thing to get obsessed about.

In the first episode, Vicky takes Duncan out of his comfort zone as the pair travel to Asknish Bay in Argyll and Bute for a chilly dook, before introducing him to her favourite local sauna. Keen to keep up the wellness adventure, the pair also try out mud baths and salt scrubs with inspiring locals who embody the wellbeing lifestyle.

As their journey continues up the west coast, Vicky and Duncan take on more holistic activities, including yoga and reiki, as well as embracing outdoor pursuits such as kayaking in the waters surrounding Skye, and even gorging, all in search of inner peace.

Both from different backgrounds and generations, Duncan and Vicky’s unlikely friendship is the centrepiece of Sona. Having been close friends for many years, they will talk about everything and anything, nothing is off limits. 

The pair have helped each through some of life’s toughest moments, and are now supporting each other on their wellness journey.

Presenter, Vicky Kilgour said: “Scotland has loads of wild saunas and wellness resources and I am on a mission to try them all in the hope of finding happiness with my close pal, Duncan.

“Sauna culture has truly taken hold here in Scotland, especially along our coasts where wild swimmers use them as a way to warm up after a cool dip.

“In this new series, we’re discovering that saunas are offering people a way to come together, recharge, and embrace healthier lifestyles.”

Duncan MacDonald added: “Although I was a bit sceptical at first, I have now truly embraced the wellness journey after exploring sauna spots along the west coast of Scotland with Vicky.

“From the sense of calm after a session to the way it lifts your mood, it’s amazing how something as simple as sitting in a hot container can have such a big impact on your health and happiness.

“Viewers looking to embrace the sauna culture – hats and all – might be surprised by just how good it makes them feel.”

Sona will premiere exclusively on BBC iPlayer on Saturday 30 August from 10pm.

Viewers can watch the new series on BBC ALBA from Thursday 4 September at 10pm :  https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002j0sm

BBC ALBA to show champions Corstorphine as Scottish women’s rugby is given World Cup boost

BBC ALBA is set to feature Arnold Clark Premiership champions Corstorphine’s latest challenge in the defence of their title as they travel to play Watsonians tonight (Friday 29 August), with coverage starting at 7.30pm.

The coverage is part of BBC ALBA’s plans to show the top domestic rugby competitions in Scotland for free on TV, including both the men’s and women’s Arnold Clark Premiership finals and 12 league matches throughout the 2025/26 season.

These matches will be available live and on demand on BBC ALBA, via BBC iPlayer, on the BBC ALBA YouTube channel and on bbc.co.uk/rugbaidh, with the games available worldwide on a live and on-demand basis.

Corstorphine started the defence of their title earlier this month with a hard-fought 26-17 win away to Biggar. For Watsonian FC, they will be hoping home advantage will help them bounce back from an opening day 34-17 defeat to Stirling County.

The players of all Premiership clubs were given a free weekend last week so they could take the opportunity to travel and support Scotland’s national women’s side as they made a successful start to their Rugby World Cup campaign, beating Wales 38-8.

Fiona MacKenzie, BBC ALBA commissioning editor, said: “BBC ALBA will be showing the best of Scottish women’s rugby across the season, thanks to our renewed agreement with Scottish Rugby as the popularity of the sport continues to grow.

“Interest will, of course, also be heightened across Scotland thanks to the impressive start our national team made against Wales in the Women’s Rugby World Cup.”

Watch champions Corstorphine’s trip to Watsonians tonight live or on demand on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer:

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002hq7g

Next Friday (5 September), Hillhead Jordanhill will play Biggar, with live coverage on BBC ALBA again beginning at 7.30pm:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002j11h

BBC ALBA kick off renewed SWPL partnership with champions Hibernian on opening weekend

BBC ALBA is set to feature ScottishPower women’s premier league champions Hibernian this weekend as part of the broadcast partnership extension, as the 2025/26 season gets under way.

The multi-year deal announced last month – funded by BBC ALBA’s partner, MG ALBA – will see the channel continue to bring live coverage of top flight women’s football to viewers across the country until the end of the 2027/28 season, cementing BBC ALBA’s role as the home of the SWPL.

BBC ALBA kicks off its broadcasting schedule with live coverage of Hibs’ opening clash against Aberdeen this Sunday (17 August) as the Edinburgh side launch their bid to defend the league title in their first game of the season. Full match coverage is available from 4pm with Alex O’Henley, live from Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium.

The following weekend (Sunday 24 August), BBC ALBA will feature Rangers’ first home fixture of the campaign when they host Hearts at Ibrox Stadium.

Fiona MacKenzie, BBC ALBA commissioning editor, said: “The broadcast partnership agreement between BBC ALBA and the SWPL reaffirms our strong commitment to showcasing the very best of women’s football, ensuring the continued visibility and growth of the game.

“Women’s football in Scotland has gone from strength to strength and fans all over the country will be excited to see how their favourite teams fare in the 2025/26 SWPL season.”

This year’s SWPL features 10 teams, rather than the previous 12, setting the stage for an even more competitive season as the popularity of women’s football continues to grow. The sport’s rise is reflected in the record-breaking attendance figures at this summer’s UEFA European Championships which attracted as many as 657,291 spectators.

Watch the 2025/26 season action live or on demand on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer:

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002hfl4

BBC ALBA covers all the action from the Camanachd Cup semis

BBC ALBA continues its live coverage of the 2025 Tulloch Camanachd Cup as the battle for shinty’s most prestigious trophy reaches the final four.

The first semi-final, held on Saturday 2 August, saw Cup holders Kingussie progress after a dominant performance against Fort William at Bught Park in Inverness. Kingussie, who reached the semis with a 5–0 win over Beauly, showed their strength once again in their campaign to retain the title for a fourth consecutive year.

Attention now turns to the second semi-final this coming weekend as Newtonmore face Oban Camanachd today (Saturday 9 August) at An Aird, Fort William.

Newtonmore overcame a shock early setback in their quarter-final away to Inveraray, eventually running out 4-1 winners, while their semi-final opponents Oban Camanachd cruised into the last four with a 5-0 win over Lovat.

Live coverage of the Newtonmore v Oban Camanachd semi-final will start on BBC ALBA at 4pm with BBC Spòrs presenter Allan Macleod, and commentator, Derek Mackay.

BBC ALBA will also broadcast the showpiece event in the shinty calendar, the Camanachd Cup final, live from Inverness, on Saturday 20 September.

Fiona MacKenzie, BBC ALBA commissioning editor, said: “Shinty is an integral part of Scotland’s sporting and cultural identity, and the Camanachd Cup is the trophy most top teams covet more than any other.

“These fixtures promise to showcase the sport at its best and provide a fantastic opportunity to bring the excitement and passion of the game to a wider audience across the country – and beyond.”

Watch Saturday’s first semi-final live or on demand on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer: 

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002h485

BBC ALBA celebrates 21 years of Belladrum with exclusive coverage

BBC ALBA is bringing the best of The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival to viewers, live from the Belladrum Estate in Kiltarlity across the weekend (from Thursday 31 July to Saturday 2 August).

Presenters Fiona MacKenzie and Niall Iain MacDonald will lead audiences through the festival with exclusive coverage featuring live performances from established and emerging artists.

Known for its unique and diverse showcase of music and the arts, Belladrum attracts tens of thousands of visitors, and this year is no exception with headliners including Texas, Supergrass and Paul Heaton.

Other chart-topping acts set to perform, and appear on BBC ALBA, across the weekend include Tom Walker, Natasha Bedingfield, Example and The Hoosiers. And Scottish artists are well represented with folk rock and pop favourites Skipinnish, Kassidy, Rianne Downey and Tide Lines.

The 2025 festival will also provide a platform for local musicians building a name for themselves, including 17 year old swing singer Michael Lewis from Newtonmore, who has recently secured a musical residency at a renowned music venue in Texas, USA.

Accordion playing sensation and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist RuMac will perform on the Garden Stage, having recently made an appearance in Danny Boyle’s new film, 28 Years Later.

Kicking off the coverage on BBC ALBA will be Falasgair – the six-piece up-and-coming contemporary trad band who won this year’s Belladrum Tartan Hearts Festival talent search.

The band, who hail from Skye and take their name from the Gaelic word for seasonal heather burning, will take to the Belladrum main stage from 4pm on Thursday 31 July with their high-energy take on traditional Scottish music. 

Belladrum 24. BBC ALBA Pics Trevor Martin

Ahead of their Belladrum debut, Finn MacPherson of Falasgair, said: “Having attended Belladrum quite a few times since I was young, I never thought I’d see myself on the main stage playing alongside my pals so it’s a pretty surreal feeling.

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who voted for us — we couldn’t have done it without the amazing support from our family, friends, and the local community. It really shows the strength of the music scene here.

“This has come at a great time for us a band as we’re recording our debut album and will release it later this year. We’re looking forward to kicking off the festival in a traditional manner – with the pipes!”

Belladrum talent search judge Robert Robertson, lead singer of Tide Lines who are due to perform on Saturday, added: “It’s brilliant that the festival will be opened by a young, island band playing traditional music with such dynamism and energy – they will have the place bouncing!”

True to its longstanding support of Scottish artists, BBC ALBA supported the search which provides a platform to propel newcomers into the country’s celebrated music scene.

Calum McConnell, commissioning editor at BBC ALBA, said: “Falasgair are a brilliant, young traditional band whose star is definitely on the rise and we’re proud to support emerging talent like this as part of our wider Belladrum partnership.

“This year’s coverage promises to capture the colour, energy and incredible talent that makes this festival so special. From headline sets to hidden gems, BBC ALBA will bring audiences at home the very best of Belladrum 2025 live across the weekend and on demand on BBC iPlayer. Whether you’re tuning in for the trad, the pop or something a little different, it’s going to be an unforgettable few days.”

Belladrum festival producer, Dougie Brown, said: “Belladrum is more than just a music festival — it’s a celebration of creativity, community and culture, all set against the stunning Highland backdrop.

“We’re marking our 21st birthday with a line-up that brings together household names, rising stars and a few surprises along the way so whether it’s your first time or your fifteenth, there’s always something new to discover.

“And with BBC ALBA bringing the magic to screens across the country, even more people can share in the Belladrum buzz.”

For those unable to attend, tune into BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer for its live annual coverage with exclusive broadcasts across the weekend.

Watch live or on demand from Thursday 31 July: Belladrum on BBC ALBA

BBC ALBA serves up fresh flavours from the Hebrides in new series

Well-loved presenter and foodie Gregor MacLeod is back on BBC ALBA with a mouthwatering new show, Greim-Bìdh le Gregor, exploring the culinary delights found on his doorstep.

Across six weeks, Gregor will uncover the finest ingredients grown, reared, fished and prepared on the Isle of Lewis, and uses these to create his own imaginative recipes.

Emerging as a foodie hotspot, the Outer Hebrides is home to some of Scotland’s finest produce, from fresh seafood to Stornoway Black Pudding, complemented by a plethora of home baking available at popular honesty boxes dotted around the islands.

In the first episode, now available on BBC iPlayer, Gregor heads to the island’s east coast to meet a local fisherman and to collect ingredients for a Hebridean feast with a Mediterranean twist. Securing the freshest langoustines, he whips up an enormous, vibrant paella, perfect for hosting a large party.

For dessert, he visits a local honesty shed to collect homemade raspberry jam, perfect for assembling his comforting jam roly-poly. Not forgetting the all-important cheese course, Gregor shares his popular fruit and nut crackers recipe to accompany a selection of his favourite local cheeses.

Throughout the series, Gregor’s passion for self-sufficient living shines as he prepares a range of vibrant yet accessible dishes using local and homegrown ingredients. Championing the idea of making the most of what’s close to home, he welcomes BBC ALBA viewers into his own garden pantry where he grows vegetables, rears chickens and keeps his own beehive.

Gregor comments: “When it comes to a tasty bite to eat, you don’t have to look any further than the incredible variety of produce the Isle of Lewis has to offer.

“This new series is a celebration of the island’s wonderful cuisine. We’re so lucky to have such a bounty of fresh, accessible ingredients and it’s my mission to inspire viewers to cook and bake simple and flavourful dishes using what’s right on their doorstep.”

Produced by Caledonia TV, Greim-Bìdh le Gregor is now available on BBC ALBA on Monday evenings at 8.30pm(in Gaelic with English subtitles).

Watch live or on demand on BBC iPlayer: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002g83p

BBC ALBA explores what the future holds for the Catholic Church

The passing of Pope Francis, and the election of Pope Leo XIV, puts a new man in charge of a global church with 1.4 billion members. It’s an institution of enormous religious, cultural, and at times political influence, but also one that has been rocked by a number of controversies over the years.

For BBC ALBA’s latest Eòrpa documentary, The Catholic Church: Questions of Faith / An Eaglais Chaitligeach: Ceistean Creideamh, Anna Macleod reports from Scotland and Spain to get a sense of the state of the church today and where it’s heading under the stewardship of its first American Pope.

Pope Francis established a global church-wide consultation, bringing together views from across the Catholic community on issues that mattered the most to its members. The handling of abuse cases, the role of women in the church, the debate on whether priests should be allowed to marry and the church’s relationship with LGBT people were among the main issues raised.

In London, Anna meets Hugo Kennedy. Sexually abused by a teacher at the Fort Augustus Abbey Catholic School in the 1970s, he now campaigns for justice for survivors of abuse like him. For Hugo, a new Pope gives little reason for optimism that much will change.

Hugo says: “It’s best to have zero expectation. I find with the Catholic Church, Pope, Vatican, whatever, because generally they’re pretty consistently good at coming through for you on zero expectation, they deliver nothing.”

Cases of abuse continue to the present day.

In the north-western Spanish region of Galicia, lawyer Aida Blanco Arias has represented survivors of abuse by a previously-respected priest: “All the children, one after another, always said he was a role model, he was like a father, a friend who was always there.

“Some even explained that he had had dinner at their house. So, like victims of domestic violence, they don’t understand how someone they love can hurt them.”

The question of married and female priests was raised in many congregations worldwide during the synodal process. The ordination of women is banned by the church, but in past decades, there has been a global movement to ordain female priests.

In the city of Á Coruña, Anna meets Christina Moreira who shares why she felt compelled to ask to be ordained in a clandestine ceremony.

Christina comments: “In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI issued a decree on punishment for the most serious offences, for priests who harm children and women.

“Paedophiles and others. It is a decree which is called ‘the most serious faults’. Then, there was a second part. Women who are ordained priests, whoever ordains them and whoever participates in their ordination, will also be considered as committing the most serious, grave sin comparable to the one I had just read. Ordaining a woman cannot be as serious as raping a child.”

In South Uist, home to one of Scotland’s longest-established Catholic communities, Anna meets Father Colin MacInnes.

Father Colin, who is from South Uist, spent much of his priesthood in South America where he saw how vital women were in guiding congregations: “What does Jesus Christ want in the modern world? If He wants female priests, that’s not a problem.

“I worked in Equador and would put women in charge of a parish. They are good at parish work, prayer, and Bible readings. They do it beautifully.”

Reflecting on those she met and their testimonies, reporter Anna Macleod remarked: “The affection felt for the late Pope Francis was evident among many of those we spoke to – his attempts to reach out to marginalised communities was something that mattered to many members of the Church. 

“Despite a decline in population the long-standing Catholic community of South Uist continues to nurture the faith, with the next generation taking a central role in Church life and there was a tangible sense of vitality there.

“But it’s also evident that the scandals surrounding the Catholic church – historical and current – and the way the Church hierarchy dealt with them have done immense damage to people for whom faith was very important. And despite the efforts Pope Francis made to modernise some aspects of the Church, change isn’t coming fast enough for some.”

Eòrpa is BBC ALBA’s flagship current affairs programme, covering a variety of domestic and European stories.

Eòrpa: The Catholic Church: Questions of Faith / An Eaglais Chaitligeach: Ceistean Creideamh will premiere on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Monday 7 July (in Gaelic with English subtitles).

Watch live or on demand: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006mvwb/eorpa

Voting for The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival talent search is now open!

BBC ALBA and The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival have once again teamed up with a quest to find the best up-and-coming musical talent from the Highlands and Islands. 

The winner of the talent search will be given the opportunity to perform on the main stage at this year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival.

Open to solo artists and bands (where at least 50% of its members have a Highland home address) across all genres, one newcomer will be given the opportunity to perform on the main stage at this year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival.

Public votes can be cast on the Belladrum website and will be closing at 5pm Friday 20 June, ahead of Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival 2025 from Thursday 31 July to Saturday 2 August.

Vote here – https://tartanheartfestival.com/competition-vote

Eight incredible up-and-coming acts are in the running to open the MAIN STAGE at Bella 2025!

  • Low Light Listening Lounge
  • Falasgair
  • The Cherries
  • Isla Scott
  • The Chosen Lonely
  • El Sartel
  • Ró Ó hEadhra
  • Scott C. Park

Known for its unique and diverse showcase of music and the arts, the festival has grown in popularity over the past 20 years, now attracting thousands of visitors.

As it prepares for its 21st year, with acts including Texas, Supergrass, Paul Heaton, Tom Walker and Natasha Bedingfield confirmed, the team is on the hunt to find the best new homegrown talent to open the main stage at the Hot House Arena on Thursday 31 July.

True to its longstanding support of Scottish artists, BBC ALBA is supporting the search, providing a platform to propel newcomers onto the celebrated Scottish music scene, as well as an additional opportunity for the winner to record an acoustic session in the BBC ALBA studio at the festival.

Find out more about Belladrum and get your tickets at tartanheartfestival.com.

For those unable to attend, BBC ALBA will be bringing the best of the festival to viewers at home with its annual live coverage broadcast across the weekend, available on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer.

Watch live or on demand from Thursday 31 July: Belladrum on BBC ALBA.

BBC ALBA goes on a journey to the end of the world – Patagonia

BBC ALBA follows the Gaelic trail to ‘the end of the world’ in stunning new Patagonia series

BBC ALBA’s breathtaking new two-part documentary, Patagonia – Cuàirt gu Crìoch na Cruinne (A Journey to the End of the World), invites viewers on an extraordinary expedition across South America, retracing the footsteps of Scots who ventured to the remote region of Patagonia more than a century ago.

From the hills and lochs of North Uist to the towering glaciers and open plains of Chile and Argentina, Hebridean crofter, Keith MacDonald, rides his motorcycle deep into the heart of Patagonia – a continent he lived and worked in a decade ago.

What begins as a personal quest soon becomes a powerful story of survival and reconnection as Keith explores the elemental landscapes, genealogical secrets and dramatic history of one of the least known parts of the world.

At every junction Keith uncovers the story of the Scottish pioneers who uprooted their families to emigrate across the Atlantic Ocean, to Patagonia, in search of a better life.

Along the way, Keith learns about how gauchos still have to overcome vast distances and relentless winds to make a precarious living from this unforgiving territory. 

But the journey is more than just an educational one, as he connects with his ancestors, a long way from his home in North Uist, and from their roots in Achmore on the Isle of Lewis.

Episode one sees Keith travel through Chilean Patagonia, reaching Puerto Natales where he joins a traditional sheep drive across rugged landscapes. Under the guidance of a local farmer — a proud descendant of Scottish settlers — Keith learns the time-honoured techniques passed down through generations. But what lessons can he take back to his own croft in Scotland?

While in Chile, he learns to tame wild horses, attempts to capture a rogue bull and ventures into the stunning mountains of Torres del Paine National Park where he tracks elusive pumas and observes baby guanacos up close in their natural habitat. The episode culminates in the remote city of Punta Arenas, in the far south of the continent, where Keith meets his relatives and hears stories about their ancestors’ tough lives.

In episode two, Keith’s journey takes him deep into Argentine Patagonia, where he kayaks to the awe-inspiring Perito Moreno Glacier — a natural wonder now beginning to show the first signs of retreat due to climate change. At one of the few surviving cattle ranches within the vast Los Glaciares National Park, he swaps his motorcycle for horseback joining a team of gauchos as they round up livestock in the shadow of towering peaks. 

Pushing further south than he’s ever travelled, Keith reaches Tierra del Fuego, a windswept archipelago off the southern tip of the continent.

There, he uncovers the harrowing legacy of Alexander MacLennan — known as “The Red Pig” – a Scottish settler whose brutal role in the genocide of the region’s Indigenous peoples casts a dark shadow over this chapter of Scottish emigration history.

Crofter Keith MacDonald said: “I never imagined, a decade on from my last visit, that I could still be so entranced with South America, but here I am, more captivated than ever. I met some extraordinary people along the way, encountered wildlife in all its natural splendour and travelled through some of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth.

“From time to time when you travel, you meet people who have a deep connection to a special place. Our Scottish descendants have an important role to play as custodians of the land and the environment, and it’s important to keep the freedoms and traditions of the Patagonian lifestyle alive.

“I have returned home with new ideas and new friends, and meeting relatives on my mother’s side is something extremely special to me. Only a few generations ago the Scots were true pioneers, a tough experience but one that seemed well worth it. The heart and soul of Patagonia remains as vibrant and enduring as ever.”

Episode one of Patagonia – Cuàirt gu Crìoch na Cruinne (A Journey to the End of the World) premiers on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday 18 June at 9pm, (in Gaelic with English subtitles).Watch live or on demand: BBC ALBA – Patagonia – Episode guide