Ann is one of the world’'s leading female polar explorers and first visited the Arctic Ocean in 1997 when she was part of a five-strong team carrying out a relay expedition to the North Pole.

Ann, 44, from Devon, has also led a team of five explorers on a 700 mile trek to the South Pole in 2000, becoming the first British woman to complete the feat.

She also reached the North Pole in 2002 after a gruelling 500 mile trek with an American female explorer but fell tantalisingly short of completing a solo trek to the pole in 2005 when her permit was withdrawn after 21 days by Russian authorities and she was airlifted off the ice.

Ann will act as a navigator to the team, ensuring their smooth progress across the 750 mile route.