Series 1 Plot
With no-holds-barred access to the ship and ship’s company, viewers will witness the tasks, triumphs, and tribulations of officers and ratings alike. The average age on board is just 24 and for many - like Helayna from the Wirral and ex drum n bass DJ Ronnie from Essex - this is their first time at sea. Through them and many others we experience the peril of life on the high seas as well as the fun and friendship that can be the reward of close-quarter living in a high-pressure, high-risk environment.
The Warship: Tour of Duty Series 1 aired on January 22nd, 2023.
Series 1 Episodes
1. For Queen and Country
Britain’s deadliest warship is on her first active operations. Sixteen hundred mostly young men and women set sail on a voyage through hostile waters to the other side of the world.
2. Troubled Waters
The warship sails into the eastern Mediterranean and runs the gauntlet of hostile Russian warships and jet fighters. There’s a dramatic standoff near the coast of Syria.
3. The Enemy Within
Following a break in Cyprus, HMS Queen Elizabeth heads back to sea. But within days, a stowaway is discovered: Covid. Before long, hundreds are in isolation, and tensions rise across the warship.
4. Pride of the Fleet
In the South China Sea, the warship launches anti-submarine helicopters to see off an unwelcome visit from the Chinese Navy.
5. Neptune's Kingdom
After travelling over 20,000 miles, HMS Queen Elizabeth heads from Japan back to Guam for vital maintenance. After the sailors relax on a longer run of shore leave, the ship and her escorts sail in convoy with the American, Japanese and Australian navies for a show of strength in China’s backyard.
6. It’s Not Over Till It’s Over
HMS Queen Elizabeth is nearing the end of her deployment, and the crew is already looking forward to returning home. But then, disaster strikes - an F35 jet loses power at a critical moment.
