Produced by STV Studios, the special will involve a critical investigation into why more and more whales are being washed up and dying along the UK’s shores. 

Since 1990, 12,000 stranded cetaceans have been recorded in the UK and explorer and biologist Al-Shamahi, is on a mission to find out why that is happening and who or what is to blame. 

How much of an impact do pollution, fishing, ship strikes and other human activity have on the dire crisis?

Al-Shamahi will follow frontline science organisations as they attend to fatal whale strandings all around the UK and examine what caused their tragic deaths.

Cameras will capture the graphic but informative autopsies of stranded whales, and follow the cutting-edge lab analysis, to find answers as to what effect humans really have on the oceans and how we can save the whales in danger. 

Jonah Weston, Science Commissioning Editor for Channel 4, said: “Whale strandings are on the rise and alarmingly frequent all around the UK coast. This unique TV event sets out to find out what’s really going on and just what we can do about it.  

“With the seas around Britain and the world under pressure like never before, it’s a pressing question with huge consequences for the planet’s last true wilderness and the incredible creatures who call it home.”