Nigel explores almost every type of environment in China, climbing steep forested slopes and even wading into a sea cave to track down his top ten. But which is number one? The fearsome hundred-pacer, so-called because of the speed at which its venom can kill? The massive, mysterious dragon of the mountains, the Mangshan viper? Or the king cobra, largest venomous snake on Earth, capable of killing an elephant with a single bite?

Costa Rica has two venomous snakes for every hectare of land, including some of the world’s most feared tropical snakes. Which of these kings of the jungle will make it to the top of Nigel’s list? The terciepelo, the so-called ‘ultimate pitviper’, responsible for almost half the bites in the country? The only rattlesnake in Latin America, the stunning but deadly cascabel? Or the world’s largest viper, the 3-metre bushmaster, as long as a family car?

The USA is the land of the rattlesnake – there are over 30 species of rattler found here. But what’s the deadliest serpent in the country? The coral snake, which bites and won’t let go? The copperhead, responsible for more bites than any other? Or the heaviest venomous snake in the world, the eastern diamondback rattler, over 2 metres long and as thick as a drainpipe?

With almost 2000 snakebites causing 250 deaths every year, South Africa is a hotspot for deadly snakes, with some of the most feared serpents in the world. But what’s the most deadly? The spitting cobra, shot in incredible slow-motion spraying venom directly at Nigel’s face? The terrifying black mamba, Africa’s largest venomous snake, the world’s fastest? Or the notorious puff adder, which causes more fatalities than any other in Africa?