Airing this Friday (18th July) at 7pm on BBC One, and available now on BBC iPlayer, The Ultimate Wingwalker follows the world’s only formation wingwalking display team as they prepare for their first public show of the season and attempt a daring new aerial manoeuvre in front of a live audience.
Filmed over three weeks in Gloucestershire and Cornwall by North East production house Wander Films, the documentary follows wingwalker Kirsten and lead pilot Dave as they train to perform The Heart Break, a new move requiring strength, skill and absolute precision. But with relentless weather and limited practice time, it’s a race against the elements to get it right.
Three years earlier, the pair made headlines after being forced to ditch their aircraft into the sea during a live show, narrowly escaping death in front of stunned spectators. The outcome of the ditch highlights their skill, professionalism and unwavering focus on safety.
To capture the action from every angle, Wander’s in-house production team mounted 360° GoPros directly onto the WW2 biplanes, delivering an electrifying, rarely seen view of wingwalking at over 140mph. The film also offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into life at the team’s WWI airfield base in Cirencester.
Joining Kirsten and team captain Dave are fellow wingwalker Emma and pilot Mike, who work as a tight-knit team to rehearse their aerial choreography, with their first show of the season in Cornwall just one week away.
While the aerial stunts will leave viewers breathless, the documentary’s emotional core lies in Kirsten’s passion and resilience to keep pushing boundaries in a sport she loves.
The Ultimate Wingwalker was executive produced by Wander co-founders Chloë Clover and Lou Tonner with the film directed, filmed and edited in-house by the Wander team. Producer Katie Elliott and Edit Producer Lesley Duncanson brought a ton of experience to the project, shaping the story through production and post. The final mix and grade was delivered by True North Post.
Tonner said: “We’re buzzing to bring our second full-length commission to the Our Lives series. We wanted this one to match the adrenaline of our last film and when we met Kirsten and the team we knew this was the story to tell. Their energy, skill and fearlessness made it a no-brainer.”
Clover added: “This film is full of good vibes, showing a highly skilled team doing something they absolutely love. We’re super proud and can’t wait for people to see it.”
This is Wander’s second commission for Our Lives, following the 2024 film The Lakes: Our Life on the Edge, which explored the emotional and physical highs and lows of free solo climbers Anna and Mat. It joins their growing list of broadcast credits, including BBC’s Morning Live, and paid development with Channel 4 and ITV.
With recent expansion into London and representing the UK’s creative industries at SXSW in Austin, the Middlesbrough-based agency says it is on a mission to change the way content is produced, bridging the gap between TV and digital.
