The BBC is filming the latest season of its travel-by-rail series Great Railway Journeys in New Zealand, and are starting the South Island leg in Otago.
A small crew from London departed from Dunedin Railway Station on the Seasider at 9.30am yesterday, documenting the scenic coastal train ride.
The show is presented by former British cabinet minister Michael Portillo, who travels scenic routes around the world by rail.
Producer Mona Ansari-Beni said the crew was going to work its way up the South Island by rail on the Seasider, Taieri Gorge, the TranzAlpine and the Coastal Pacific.
As they make their way up the island, they will stop at various locations and find out more about the people, culture, history and landscapes.
"He really gets underneath an area to showcase it to the audience.
"We're always trying to just show our audience different places that they can visit themselves."
The crew had just finished filming the North Island leg of the show and their first stop in the South Island was Dunedin.
They had spent two days in the South Island and had eight days of shooting left.
Miss Ansari-Beni said it was Mr Portillo’s first time in New Zealand and he was very excited to be in this country.
The show — its working title is "Great New Zealand Railway Journeys" — will be distributed to audiences around the world and is expected to be broadcast in 2027.
Ms Jenkins said it was pretty special that the city and its scenic train journeys would be a part of the classic travel show.
"A show like Great Railway Journeys only really goes to places with real character and great stories.
"Their interest is a huge endorsement of what we have here and it really tells us that our journeys stack up on a global stage."
She said the show was also a good opportunity to showcase Dunedin as a destination for tourists.
"It’s very cool for the new season to be kicking off in Dunedin.
"It’s going to really encourage momentum and, hopefully, we see trains filling up."
Seasider on-board storyteller Robert Mulligan said it was wonderful for Dunedin to receive the recognition of being featured in the show.
"We've got one of the greatest train journeys in the world ... so we're delighted that people can hear our story."
He said the Seasider was an extraordinary trip. Not only did it pass through the remnants of an ancient volcano overlooking Port Chalmers, but it was in an area with a lot of history, including a signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and the birth of the Union Steam Ship Company.
