Guy in the Sky: an adventure documentary series
Format: adventure documentary series · Destinations: Ireland, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Malta · Presenter: Paris Norriss, CEO of Blazing Sand Studios
Watch the trailer
The idea
Guy in the Sky is an adventure documentary that explores heritage, people and hidden places around the world, in the spirit of Indiana Jones. It takes the format that made Guy in Dubai the #1 commissioned local programme on Dubai TV and carries it beyond the UAE. Presenter Paris Norriss travels to each destination to uncover the stories behind its landscapes and history, meeting the people who keep its traditions alive and taking on the adventures that make a place unforgettable.
Why destinations commission it
Tourism boards spend heavily on advertising, but audiences increasingly ignore anything that looks like an ad. A documentary series works differently. Viewers choose to watch it, they stay for the story and they come away wanting to go. Guy in the Sky is built for that: authentic, presenter-led storytelling that shows a country through experiences rather than slogans. Each episode is a series of adventures that sets out to discover the essence of the country.
Where it goes
Each episode is a series of adventures designed to uncover what makes a country itself.
Ireland
Paris goes bog diving, visits the Irish National Stud and the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, and joins the crowds at the Irish Derby. He takes on hovercraft racing, rides horses in Northern Ireland, walks the Dark Hedges made famous by Game of Thrones, visits the Titanic museum in Belfast and goes fishing in Portrush.
Poland
The Polish episode starts on the Baltic Sea, under sail, and at Westerplatte, where the Second World War began. Paris discovers Gdańsk and learns about the Baltic amber industry, cooks traditional Polish food with a chef, and flies paramotors over the countryside and a hot air balloon above it. He scuba dives in a flooded quarry to find old quarry machinery, goes down a coal mine in Katowice, rock climbs, and treks and caves through the Tatra Mountains to discover the story of Juraj Jánošík. The episode ends in Kraków, exploring the history of the Polish kingdom and the city's nightlife.
Malta
Paris rows into Valletta, then discovers the city above and below ground, including St John's Co-Cathedral. He visits Casa Rocca Piccola and meets the Marquis, kayaks to Gozo, rock climbs and paramotors over Malta and Gozo, and visits the Ta' Pinu Basilica. Timmy Gambin shows him what he has found under the sea, and Paris dives the shipwrecks in the harbour. He motorcycles through the countryside, learns glass blowing at Mdina Glass, uncovers the underground cisterns of Mdina, visits an olive farm, cooks Maltese food with a chef and learns Għana, Malta's traditional folk music.
Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, Paris goes camel racing and takes a helicopter over the ancient volcanoes of Khaybar, then discovers the history and fort of Khaybar and the oasis town of Tayma. In AlUla, he flies a hot air balloon over Hegra and discovers its tombs, then discovers the library of Ikmah and the ancient site of Dadan. He also spends time in an archaeology lab discovering AlUla's ancient artefacts, picks dates and rides horses in the desert.
How we are making it
Guy in the Sky draws on everything Blazing Sand Studios has learned in 17 years of adventure television:
- Crews built for difficult places. Our capabilities include stunt production and coordination, and aerial and underwater cinematography, so we can film where conventional crews cannot.
- A presenter-led format. Paris Norriss has presented four seasons of Guy in Dubai and knows how to carry a story on camera while taking on real challenges.
- Real locations, enhanced where it helps. We film on location, and our post-production team uses AI tools for set extensions, clean-up and multi-language versions, with editors signing off every frame.
- Built for every screen. The series is planned for broadcasters, streaming platforms and in-flight entertainment, with social cut-downs for each destination's own channels.
Distribution plans
Our distribution arm works with more than 150 broadcasters, 100 streaming platforms and 50 airlines and cruise lines across 123 countries. Guy in Dubai is on Amazon Prime, Dubai One and Emirates ice, and Guy in the Sky is made with the same breadth of distribution in mind.
Bring your destination to the series
We are always interested in new destinations and partners. If you are a tourism board, a destination developer or a brand that wants to be part of an adventure series seen around the world, talk to us about featuring in Guy in the Sky or commissioning a series of your own.
Common questions.
What is Guy in the Sky?
An adventure documentary series from Blazing Sand Studios, presented by Paris Norriss, that explores heritage, people and hidden places around the world, in the spirit of Indiana Jones.
Which countries does it feature?
Ireland, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Malta. Each episode is a series of adventures that discovers the essence of the country.
What happens in the Malta episode?
Paris rows into Valletta, kayaks to Gozo, paramotors over the islands, dives harbour shipwrecks, visits St John's Co-Cathedral and Mdina Glass, and learns Għana, Malta's traditional folk music.
Can our destination feature in the series?
We welcome conversations with tourism boards, destination developers and brands about featuring in the series or commissioning their own.
What happens in the Saudi Arabia episode?
Paris goes camel racing, flies by helicopter over the ancient volcanoes of Khaybar, hot air balloons over Hegra and discovers its tombs, spends time in an archaeology lab discovering AlUla's ancient artefacts, and discovers Tayma, the library of Ikmah and Dadan.
Who produces Guy in the Sky?
Blazing Sand Studios, the Abu Dhabi-based production company behind Guy in Dubai and 39 Days to Paradise.
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