Quest experiences the post-lockdown spirit of the city, cycling around the Amalienborg Palace and ordering Danish pastries.
As the city of Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen has embraced its fairy tale connections. Quest takes part in a parade celebrating these famous folktale characters, seeing Thumbelina, the Princess and the Pea, and the Emperor – resplendent in his ‘New Clothes’. He also meets Torben Iversen who plays the famous author. Iversen speaks about his role, “I have been doing Hans Christian Andersen for most of my entire life. He’s supposed to be the most famous Dane ever. Somebody has to act Andersen, to travel the world, to present the stories. And I did.”
Quest then explores the country’s Viking heritage, meeting designer, artist, and Viking descendent, Jim Lyngvild. Lyngvild has been on a life-long mission to rehabilitate the reputation of the Vikings, even building his own Viking castle and a house of worship to the Pagan gods. He talks about his views and how he is seen by others, “I never care about what other people think. My goal here in life is to tell people about old Norse beliefs and Vikings and make them less stereotyped.”
Lyngvild even gets Quest involved in a Viking photoshoot, dressing him as Harald Bluetooth, an ancient king of Denmark. Complete with authentic Viking-age jewellery and a flowing golden wig, Quest is transformed into Norse royalty.
The show also visits Copenhagen’s Freetown commune Christiania, established when a group of hippies took over a former military base in the early 70s. 50 years later, the semblance of rebellion is still strong, with the commune celebrating free-thinkers and housing hundreds of people living a communal lifestyle.
Finally, Quest meets up with Danish journalist and foreign correspondent Ulla Terkelsen. While the pair grab pastries at a Danish bakery, she describes what makes her country so unique, “I think it is a very beautiful country. I think it is also a very pragmatic, sensible country which will always follow the path of pragmatism and reason and common sense. When you are here, you are as if you’ve stepped off the world, and stepped into a very pretty garden – very well-kept where everything is sweet and nice.”
From its rich history to its fairy tale connections, Quest finds himself in a place that epitomises wonder. He sums up his time in the city, “Once upon a time there was this place called Copenhagen, where the people felt safe, there was trust and reliability. And there was more, there was enchantment and wonder, there was a twist in the tale. And you’ll want to come and experience this fairy tale for yourself. Visit Copenhagen and live happily ever after.”
Quest’s World of Wonder airs on CNN International at the following times (all BST):
Saturday 18th September at 17:30
Sunday 19th September at 19:00 and 22:30
Saturday 25th September at 14:30 and 17:30
Sunday 26th September at 22:30
Monday 27th September at 05:30
Monday 4th October at 20:45
Tuesday 5th October at 20:45