The scene in which Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton threatens to throw his gloves overboard if the crewman doesn't take them is based on a true incident. In actuality, it was Frank Hurley who wouldn't take them.
Perce Blackborrow was an 18-year-old Welsh merchant navy sailor who was stranded in Uruguay when his ship sank. He made his way to Buenos Aires, and stowed away on the Endurance while it was being resupplied. He was discovered after three days at sea, and rather than turn the ship around, Shackleton set him to work in the galley. At first Shackleton was furious with him, but he grew to like Blackborrow, finding him witty and a good worker. Blackborrow lost the toes on one foot due to frostbite, but managed to survive the expedition. He died in 1949.
The port of Hafnarfjörður in Iceland doubled for the port of Buenos Aires. The Icelandic scenery was later replaced digitally with an Argentinean one.
This mini-series was written and directed by Charles Sturridge, who directed Brideshead Revisited (1981). In this production, he was reunited with Brideshead actress and actor Phoebe Nicholls and John Grillo.
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