Elixir Films and Image Wizard TV are to produce a travelogueseries featuring Ewan McGregor and his best friend, actor Charley Boorman,crossing the globe on motorcycles.

Filming on Long Way 'Round is due to begin in January 2004 and the programme will beavailable for the autumn 2004 television season.

The intrepid pair plan to cover 20,000 miles in less than threemonths, starting in London and finishing in New York and taking in the Russiansteppes, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Alaska along the way.

"We plan to startfilming in January and finish sometime in August with a view to create 10one-hour or 13 half-hour programmes" Elixir co-founder David Alexaniansaid in a statement.