TV adventurer Simon Reeve has been injecting some adventure into Sunday evenings, and tonight, BBC 2 will air the second instalment of his three-part series exploring Scandinavia.
Simon spoke to Donna Richardson at DLUXE magazine about his epic adventures in the Arctic tundra, endless forests, and stunning fjords, sharing some surprising secrets about the world’s happiest countries.
Simon travels through Scandinavia to learn what drives happiness and success while addressing local challenges. In Sweden, he rides with a Professor of Happiness and discusses gang violence with a police chief. In Norway, he meets the head of the world’s largest wealth fund, and in Denmark, he discovers the high trust levels among Danes.
Starting in Svalbard, Simon explores NATO’s border with Russia and visits Norway’s fjords before heading to Iceland. He enjoys a thrilling boat ride, climbs a tall wind turbine, meets an impactful scientist, talks with a volcanologist about potential eruptions, and interacts with toddlers at a forest school who play outside in extreme cold. Svalbard, once a hunting ground, now has recovering wildlife. A treaty allows many countries, including Russia, access to the islands. Tensions have risen since the Ukraine invasion, with claims of Russian sabotage adding to the strain.
Simon then heads to Lapland, where he finds a nuclear bunker beneath a Santa-themed shopping centre in Rovaniemi. He visits the Jaegar Brigade to see young soldiers train in cold-weather combat. Finland’s military service is mandatory, and the country prepares to face threats from the east as it increases military spending with NATO.
Swedish Lapland
As he crosses into Sweden, Simon notices how roads and power lines now intersect forests. Sweden is shifting to green energy, with hydroelectric power providing 40% of its energy. He meets Sami reindeer herders who are concerned about their migration routes and ends his trip at the world’s largest iron ore mine, where a significant discovery could supply Europe with vital rare earth metals.
“You’ll even see a nuclear bunker hidden beneath a Santa-themed shopping centre, which was quite an eye-opener!”
Simon Reeve
Simon says that he chose Scandinavia because “It’s a region of incredible contrasts. You’ve got these vast, icy wildernesses in the north, places like Svalbard, which feel like the very edge of the world, and then you’ve got these incredibly modern, sophisticated cities.
The secret of happiness?
Scandinavia is known as the happiest place on earth, which was part of the allure for Simon. “What drew me in, though, beyond the epic scenery, was their reputation for being some of the happiest, most equal, and progressive societies on the planet,” he said.
“I wanted to get under the skin of that. Is it all it’s cracked up to be? What’s the secret sauce? And, perhaps more importantly in these rather turbulent times, are there lessons we can learn from them?
“This series is about diving deep into what makes Scandinavia tick. Expect to see the stunning, almost otherworldly landscapes – from the icy expanses of Svalbard and Lapland, where reindeer roam, to the dramatic fjords of Norway that just take your breath away, and the lush forests of Sweden. But in true Simon Reeve style, alongside that incredible beauty, will also give viewers a proper look at the realities of life in these countries.
Simon says: “We don’t shy away from complex and surprising issues. For instance, we explore the geopolitical tensions, especially with Finland sharing such a long border with Russia – you’ll even see a nuclear bunker hidden beneath a Santa-themed shopping centre, which was quite an eye-opener!”
The series examines climate change effects, including Iceland’s melting glaciers and green technologies, while highlighting challenges faced by the Sami culture and addressing gang violence in Sweden and Denmark’s “Ghetto Law.”
As Simon says, “It’s a real mix. You’ll meet fantastic, engaging people along the way, from reindeer herders to military commanders, those running the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund to ordinary and inspiring folk just getting on with life. It’s that blend of adventure, stunning visuals, personal stories, and a willingness to tackle the big, sometimes uncomfortable, questions that I always aim for. Hopefully, it’ll be an eye-opening, thought-provoking, and ultimately, an enjoyable watch that shows Scandinavia in all its glorious, complex, and fascinating light.”
Simon admits that jumping into a frozen lake at night with the Finnish army “was a bit of a shock. But there were several other times when he was stunned by what he saw.
“I found a robot dog a mile underground in a Swedish mine, a volcano with a caldera roughly the size of Paris, and a decision dice on a desk at the offices of the world’s largest wealth fund, with Buy, Sell, Hold and Panic on each face. I loved that.”
Simon was surprised to find that Little Finland has an army five times the size of ours, the Danes are taking a very tough stance on immigration, and there’s a staggering level of gang bombings in Sweden. Lots of surprises there.
“But it’s not all straightforward. There are challenges, tensions, and some genuinely surprising issues bubbling away. We’re talking about a region that’s right on the frontline with Russia, dealing with the impacts of climate change in a very real and immediate way, and grappling with some of the same social complexities we see elsewhere in the world, like immigration and its consequences. So, it was that mix, that blend of the idyllic and the intriguing, the light and the shade, that really pulled me in. It felt like a journey that would be both beautiful and thought-provoking, and hopefully, that’s what viewers will get from it too.”
Despite these societal challenges, Simon says he was surprised by the people’s trust in strangers:
“One time we arrived in a Norwegian town on a Sunday night, and I chanced upon a florist’s shop left open as an ‘honesty shop’, with all the flowers and plants outside that people could choose and then go inside to pay via an app. No staff around at all. They had platters of chocolates, bottles of bubbly inside to buy, and even a wrapping station where people could wrap their presents. Imagine that! It’s inconceivable that we could have a full shop like that in a town in the UK. The plants would get kicked and nicked. It was such a shock to me. They have such high levels of social trust. We had that, but I fear we’ve lost it for now.
“It’s the million-krona question. What’s the secret to Scandinavian happiness? It’s not one single thing, but a cocktail of factors. Trust is a huge part of it, as we explore in the series. I saw parents happily leave their babies to sleep in prams in parks or outside cafes while they pop in for a coffee. That’s almost unthinkable in many other places, but it speaks volumes about the social cohesion and the feeling of safety and mutual respect.
“Then there’s the strong social safety net. These countries have invested heavily in their people – universal healthcare, good education, generous parental leave, and support for those who fall on hard times. This doesn’t just make life easier; it reduces many day-to-day anxieties that can weigh people down elsewhere. It gives people a sense of security, a feeling that they’re not on their own if things go wrong. And of course, there’s the work-life balance. They seem to value their leisure time and connection with nature, which is often right on their doorstep and absolutely stunning. The ‘friluftsliv’ concept, the open-air living, is deeply ingrained. Getting out into the wilderness, whether hiking, skiing, or just breathing in that crisp, clean air, is a Scandi pastime and a massive contributor to well-being.
This society thrives on equality, community support, and a love for nature. It ensures everyone has a fair chance to succeed and offers valuable lessons.
He summed up, “It’s true that Scandinavians consistently top those global happiness polls, and there’s a general sense of contentment and well-being that’s palpable, but it’s not like everyone is walking around with a permanent grin plastered on their face, skipping and singing Abba tunes. What I found was a more nuanced picture. There’s a real appreciation for the quality of life they have. They value the security, the equality, the access to nature, and that strong sense of community. But they have their worries, their stresses, just like anyone else.”
In the series, we meet people facing some pretty significant challenges. Sami reindeer herders in Sweden, whose ancient way of life is threatened by modern development and the push for green energy.
Simon says: “They’re certainly not constantly beaming with joy. Or consider the Finns living right on the border with Russia – there’s an understandable anxiety there. In Sweden, we saw communities grappling with a shocking rise in gang violence, which is a world away from the serene image many of us have of the country. In Denmark, I met a Muslim taxi driver who was forced to move his family due to the “Ghetto Law,” which prompts real questions about integration, identity, and social engineering.”
“I think those happiness surveys reflect a deeper, more fundamental satisfaction with the overall quality of life. It’s about having a strong foundation, knowing you’ll be looked after if you fall ill, that your kids will get a good education, and that you can trust the people and institutions around you. That provides a bedrock of contentment, even when life throws its inevitable curveballs.
“The people are always the heart of any journey for me, and Scandinavia was no exception!
“I met a brilliant young female volcanologist in Iceland who took me to see a super-volcano that, if it erupts, could cause a flood with more water than the outflow of the Amazon. I met the head of one of Sweden’s three bomb squads, who had been the head of Stockholm SWAT, but gave it up because there were fewer massive armed heists when the country went cashless.
“I think of the bearded Professor of Happiness, a world expert described as looking like a hipster Jesus, who has loads of tattoos, including one of ‘70’ indicating how much percentage effort all of us should apply to tasks. More than that, and we burn out. He has the number 8 tattooed on his arm, indicating how many seconds we should think about situations before reacting. He’s done the maths, he said! He told me that part of the Scandi miracle is that yes, lots is offered to people, but the state also expects and requires people to play their part—something for all of us to remember.
“I think of the bearded Professor of Happiness, a world expert described as looking like a hipster Jesus, who has loads of tattoos.”
Sinion Reeve
“In Finland, I met young conscripts in the Jaeger Brigade, training for Arctic warfare. These are kids learning to survive and fight in some of the harshest conditions imaginable, all because of the proximity of Russia, which they see as a very real threat. On a completely different note, I’m meeting someone like Inge Berg in Norway, the billionaire behind an enormous offshore fish farm the size of an aircraft carrier. Whether you agree with the scale of it or not, his drive and ambition were undeniable.
“We spent time with a bomb squad in Malmo, and hearing their experiences, seeing the reality of what they’re dealing with regularly, was incredibly sobering. These aren’t isolated incidents; it’s a serious, ongoing problem that the country struggles to get to grips with. It’s a multifaceted problem, of course, with no easy answers, involving issues of immigration, integration, poverty, social exclusion, and the international drug trade.
Norway
He says that Norway is the most awesome place in the world. “The sheer, jaw-dropping drama of the landscape. Those fjords! They’re like something out of a fantasy epic – colossal cliffs plunging into deep, dark waters, with waterfalls cascading down from impossible heights. Then you’ve got the mountains, the glaciers, the pristine forests, and incredibly picturesque islands like the Lofoten Islands, which we visited. It’s a country that just constantly takes your breath away with its raw, untamed beauty.
“But it’s more than just the scenery, magnificent. There’s a certain spirit to Norway that I find appealing. They were once relatively poor, a land of hardy farmers and fishermen. Then they struck oil, suddenly becoming one of the world’s wealthiest nations. But what’s remarkable is how they’ve managed that wealth.
“They didn’t just squander it; they created an enormous sovereign wealth fund – the ‘piggy bank’ as it’s sometimes called – now worth a staggering amount. It’s a testament to their foresight and commitment to the long-term well-being of their society. There’s admirable pragmatism and a sense of responsibility there.”
But of course, there are challenges too. The winters can be long and dark, especially the further north you go. And, let’s be honest, it’s not the cheapest part of the world!
There’s a real raw, elemental beauty to cold climates. When you’re in the Arctic, surrounded by ice and snow, there’s a silence and stillness unlike anything else on Earth. It feels incredibly pure, and the landscapes are just breathtakingly dramatic. There’s a challenge to it – you have to be properly prepared, and it tests your resilience. But there’s also a real sense of achievement in being out there, experiencing something so far removed from everyday life.
Of course, hot climates have their own allure, with vibrancy, colours, and more smells—the heat often means a full-on sensory assault, in the best possible way. I’m thinking of bustling markets in the tropics or the incredible biodiversity of a rainforest. There’s an energy to hot countries that can be incredibly infectious.
Asked which he preferred hot or cold, he said:”If I had to choose, I might lean ever so slightly towards the cold, simply because it often takes you to more remote, less-trodden parts of the world. There’s a sense of real adventure in bundling up and heading out into the frozen wilderness.
“It was genuinely fascinating and, at times, really surprising. Scandinavia is often painted with a fairly broad brush – you know, happy, healthy, a bit chilly, and very well organised. And while there’s truth in all of that, there’s so much more to it.
Danish connection
Simon added: “My wife is half Danish, so I’ve got a bit of a personal connection, particularly to Denmark. But would I pack my bags and move there? No way, I’m a proud Brit, and as much as I love to travel and explore, I feel a real pull to home.
But if I were forced to choose a place to live outside the UK, somewhere in Scandinavia would be high on the list. I think what I’d embrace most is that ‘friluftsliv’ culture, that real commitment to spending time outdoors, whatever the weather. I love the idea of stepping out of your door and being in stunning wilderness within minutes.
I hope this series peels back a few of those layers and shows the diversity, complexity, and real human stories that make this region so compelling.
“It’s a part of the world on the frontline of some of the biggest global challenges—climate change, geopolitical tensions, questions of national identity, and immigration. Yet, it’s also a place that offers some inspiring examples of how societies can be structured to prioritise well-being, equality, and a deep connection with the natural world.”
His lasting thoughts on the programme were: “The landscapes will remain with me forever. From the stunning Arctic beauty to the majestic fjords and serene forests, this region showcases the power of nature. Travelling there and meeting its people was a privilege. I returned with a deeper appreciation for Scandinavia as a dynamic part of our world.”
Simon Reeve’s Scandinavia, Sunday evenings at 9 pm. BBC 2. Available on iPlayer.
