The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free

The Underground Eiger
A marvellous portrayal of a key event in British caving, and of the adventurous spirit of the two cavers famous for their numerous cave diving breakthroughs and records.
From the collection of:

Overview
This is a wonderful account of a significant event in British caving history, and a film that has become legendary in caving folklore. It features two divers, Geoff Yeadon and Oliver Statham (aka Bear), who over several years explored and plotted the caving system beneath the moors of Ingleborough before completing the dive from Keld Head to West Kingsdale Master Cave on January 16th 1979. The film has added poignancy as Oliver Statham took his own life later that same year.
This Yorkshire Television production was first broadcast on 21st February 1979 to 20 million viewers. The 6,000ft dive was at the time a world record, and a UK one until 1991. The many exploits of Yeadon and Statham are portrayed in Martyn Farr’s book 'The Darkness Beckons', while a humorous behind-the-scenes account of the filming itself is given in ‘The Adventures of Another Pooh: Caving Explorations and Escapades’ by David Yeandle. Yeadon was renowned for his Mick Jagger impersonations, as seen here at The Old Hill Inn at Chapel le Dale, while the Ronnie Drew lookalike is a character known as J.C. Geoff Yeadon carried on to have a notable career cave diving and is at present Chairman of the Cave Diving Group.
Related

Ingleborough Shelter Ingleborough Shelter
Amateur film 1953 12 mins Silent Location: Ingleborough
Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation is celebrated in a unique and lasting way by Ingleborough locals in this charming amateur production.

Lifestyle: Three Peaks Race Lifestyle: Three Peaks Race
Documentary 1976 26 mins Location: Ingleborough
As if running up one mountain isn’t foolhardy enough, these hardened men in shorts do three, displaying amazing endurance, as well as weary legs and wasted expressions.

Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.