50 things you should do

Swimming with dolphins, scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef, whale-watching and diving with sharks. It sounds like the intinerary for a millionaire's holiday on his yacht.

But these are among the secret ambitions of normal Britons, revealed in a new survey to find the 50 things you must do in your lifetime.

It's not just the ocean that holds us in its thrall. The top 10 activities include flying in a hot air balloon, a fighter jet and in Concorde to New York - which requires some quick booking as the last flight is next month before the supersonic jet goes out of service. But there are few limits to the typical Briton's ambitions, with "travel into space" on the list at number 28.

More down to earth activities include riding a motorbike on an open road (one for those of us frustrated with congestion in the capital) riding a rollercoaster and galloping a horse along a beach.

But seeing the world holds the most appeal in the poll of 20,000
people for a new BBC show. Destinations include seeing the Great Wall of China (on foot) and the Pyramids (by camel).

Seven US destinations listed range from the Grand Canyon to Walt Disney World in Florida.

The results of the survey will be screened later this month on BBC1. Swimming with dolphins gets the most votes, and presenter Gabby Logan - who sampled several of the list's highlights - was not surprised. "It takes some beating," she said.

But it is not just Logan who gets to have a go. A handful of lucky viewers are chosen to live their particular dream too.

Recently widowed retired lecturer Pat Anthony is in tears as she treks through an ancient Malaysian rainforest and steam train enthusiast Jack Owen, 75, takes a trip back in time on the Orient Express from Venice to London.

50 Things To Do Before You Die will be screened on 17 September on BBC1.