Heart-warming winter’s tale A

POLAR bear whizzes down a slope on his tummy in the opening scene of this latest wintry wildlife film. It’s a sight that would melt even the iciest of hearts – and a canny way to grab our attention for this seasonal special from wildlife cameraman and presenter Gordon Buchanan.

The bear then rolls around in the snow, but it’s not just for fun. It’s trying to keep cool, Gordon tells us, because 11cm of fat and really thick fur really do keep the heat in.

Gordon is exploring how animals which spend their life in the snow in places like Northern Norway and the Austrian Alps, manage to survive such harsh conditions.

The polar bear will need to eat lots of fatty food to keep in tip top condition – and a seal, which can be up to 50% blubber, is the perfect meal.

But seals are pretty good at hide and seek.

Meanwhile, and even more cute than the sliding bear, we spy on twin black bear cubs.

They are so small that they can barely walk through the thick snow, but with a blizzard upon them, they’ll need to find shelter.

Elsewhere, we learn about the Arctic fox, which undergoes a major costume change for the winter, growing a thick snowwhite winter coat.

And Gordon gets up close and personal with an Arctic wolf, which takes rather a shine to him.

There are also some plucky penguins, which stay huddled together to keep warm, and an insight into the life of a robin.

And – because it’s Christmas – Gordon also follows a reindeer, and we learn there might just be some truth to Rudolph’s red nose...