The BBC series Saving Lives at Sea, showcasing the lifesaving work of the RNLI, will be on TV screens from Wednesday 16 August at 8pm on BBC Two. The 12-part documentary series features RNLI crews from Ireland & the UK.

The series gives a unique insight into the lives of the charity’s volunteer lifeboat crew members, who rescue thousands of people and save hundreds of lives around our coastline every year. From Ireland, the series will feature lifeboat crews from Castletownbere and Kinsale in Cork, Skerries in Dublin and Bangor in County Down.

The first episode will be shown next Wednesday 16 August from 8–9pm on BBC Two and will include, among other stories, the dramatic rescue of three fishermen from a sinking trawler in Kinsale and the rescue of 30 people from the Astrid tall ship, also in Kinsale.

Castletownbere will be featured in episode three as the crew rescue a lone sailor in storm conditions and rescue two fishermen from a boat that sinks.

The series features real-life rescue footage, accompanied by heart-warming and emotive testimonials from the crew and the people they rescue.

The series has been filmed over the past year, with lifeboat crews using RNLI and special cameras and welcoming film-makers into their day-to-day life. Rescues from the RNLI’s archives are also revisited.

Last year alone, RNLI lifeboats in Ireland launched 1,136 times rescuing 1,649 people.

Saving Lives at Sea will be broadcast weekly from Wednesday 16 August to Wednesday 1 November on BBC Two at 8pm. The series is made for the BBC by Blast! Films.