Scottish action star Aldo Kane is considered to be the hottest explorer on TV thanks to his rugged good looks and a series of exciting adventure roles.

This week he’s back on TV with his biggest project yet: Disney’s OceanXplorers from Titanic director James Cameron.

6

6

But the hype surrounding him will definitely not go to his head.

Aldo laughed: “I’ve been called the hottest adventurer on TV, but my wife probably wouldn’t agree, she’d think I’m more like ‘the most boring and safety-conscious dad on TV’.”

“I don’t see myself as famous.

“Probably at some point this TV work will stop and everything will fall apart, so I’m just enjoying it and hoping that other people who watch me work like what we do. But ultimately I really hope that this inspires people to get out there and get on with their lives.”

“OceanXplorers” is a lavishly produced series by National Geographic in which Aldo and three other tough guys take part in missions aboard the most technologically advanced research vessel ever made.

The ship is 80 m long, has six decks and houses various scientific laboratories, two submersibles, a helicopter and three boats.

The ship travels to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores, dives into the shallows of the Bahamas and the warm waters of the Caribbean before heading north to the icy Arctic shores of Svalbard in Norway.

For former marine Aldo, it was a chance to go back to sea.

He said: “When OceanXplorers came up in the interview process… I went to LA and was interviewed by James Cameron and his team, and I was chatting about my time in the Marines and my time on the ship and I thought, I haven’t been on a ship in years and certainly not one like the OceanXplorer, the most scientifically advanced ship in the world.

“I just thought it would be really interesting.

“That and (the fact that about) 80 percent of the ocean is still unexplored.

“So for me, going down in submarines, diving and working with scientists was a big plus.”

At 46, Aldo rose to fame late in life, having initially worked behind the camera as a security consultant during his military career.

He has worked with everyone from Tom Hardy to Will Smith, but his first real on-screen role didn’t come until 2022, opposite AJ Odudu in Channel 4’s The Bridge.

Aldo said: “One of the first Jobs I have ever been in TV Was Drive through Siberia with Tom Hardy, Drive through China with Henry Cavill, through Malaysia with Adrian Brody, and this was shot on camera, so I’ve been around for a long time.

“But it used to be easier when you just worried about safety, put up supports and got Will Smith to fall into a big hole somewhere or paddle in a river before he did it.

“When you are being filmed, you are not only doing your job, you also have to think about what you want to convey to the audience.

6

6

“I’ve been watching people do it for years and have spent years watching and getting tips from Steve Backshall and other presenters.

“When you work in the world of adventurers, with the A-list celebrities, it’s a breath of fresh air for them to escape the shackles of their everyday lives and enter a world where they work in a very small team.

“They will be doing something that is physically and emotionally challenging and not normal for them.

“Working with them is usually great and you’re grateful for the opportunity to do something different. It’s very fulfilling and adventurous.”

National Geographic says: “Marine experts embark on a global odyssey to solve some of the ocean’s greatest mysteries through the lives of its animals and their ecosystems.

“The ship sets sail on a grand adventure, offering a comprehensive look into an underwater world full of wonders with incredible discoveries that push the boundaries of exploration and our understanding of the ocean like never before.”

OceanXplorers is a co-production of National Geographic and BBC Studios.

The film will be released tomorrow, August 19, on Disney+ and will premiere on National Geographic on August 25 at 5:30 p.m.

6

6