Guy Martin: Proper Jobs

The presenter descends to the last deep coal mine in Britain, situated a mile beneath the North Sea. There, the job is punishing, the temperature blistering, and genuine hazards lie around every corner in the depths, under extreme conditions, for those who work there.

Miner is a television episode that follows a presenter as he ventures into one of the United Kingdom’s extreme workplaces. The programme takes viewers down into a deep underground operation, offering a close look at what life is like in a setting that many never see. Viewers are taken along as he navigates narrow shafts and observes the daily routines that define this isolated industry. The episode’s journey begins a mile beneath the surface of the North Sea, inside the country’s final deep‑level mine. This subterranean site far below the sea floor represents the last example of Britain’s historic deep mining industry, and the presenter descends to its heart to see it firsthand. The mine’s location beneath the sea means that any surface incident could have immediate repercussions underground. Within those depths, the work is relentless and demanding. Temperatures climb to a blistering level, making the environment unbearable, while the tasks required of the miners are grueling and unrelenting, testing stamina and resolve. The oppressive heat forces workers to pace themselves, constantly seeking brief moments of relief whenever possible. Adding to the hardship, hazards are present at every turn. The presenter encounters a landscape where danger is a constant companion, with risks hidden around each corner, highlighting required vigilance. Each decision must be weighed carefully, as a single misstep could trigger a serious accident.