NEW YORK, NOV 23: In her first TV special, Fergie means to introduce herself to all the viewers who think they know her. Adventures with the Duchess finds the Duchess of York with conservationist Jean Michel Cousteau 15 metres beneath the Caribbean's surface, where she feeds, and even pats, enormous sharks. She goes rock climbing in Colorado with Erik Weihenmayer, a world-class climber who has been blind since the age of 12.

Aired yesterday on the US Network ABC, the programme shows no trace of the tragicomic royal who has been bashed by the British press for everything from her failed marriage to Prince Andrew to her weight problems and shopping sprees. This is not even Fergie as she portrayed herself in her 1996 autobiography: Unworthy, Unattractive, Unaccomplished.

She goes along for a six-hour cattle drive in Wyoming, even throwing in some spirited ``yeeeee-haws'' along the trail. And she makes an excursion to Sonoma, California, where philosopher Sam Keen has erected a trapeze rig in his backyard. Its use: for learning how to literally make a leap of faith.Of course, it was somewhat of a leap of faith for the former Sarah Ferguson to try her hand at TV in the first place. But already, she says, that venture has paid off.

``I've now found, for the first time in 38 years, something I love doing,'' she says. I've really put my heart and soul into this programme, and I hope people like it and there's a career for me doing more of them.''Interviewed at her Four Seasons hotel suite, the Duchess looks smart in a deep blue mandarin jacket and casual slacks. Sipping a glass of diet soda, she admits to being a bit tuckered out. Understandable. She is deep into a wearying interview schedule.

But there is more than that to her fatigue. Adventures with the Duchess was shot only last month, and finished just days ago.

Taping originally had been slotted for September, but princess Diana's death changed everything. ``I didn't want to do any work at all,'' Fergie says. ``I wanted to keep my head down. But I had to honor my contract. So we did the whole lot in three weeks.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.