Man Vs. Wild
Man Vs. Wild brings seasoned adventurer Bear Grylls face to face with the grueling task of navigating remote locations, sharing invaluable survival strategies along the way.
BEAR GRYLLS BIOGRAPHY
Man Vs. Wild host, author and seasoned adventurer Bear Grylls began a lifetime of exploration at an early age. Bear grew up on the Isle of Wight, and as a young boy would go mountain climbing with his father.
He served three years with the Special Air Service, a special forces unit of the British army. During his service, he broke his back in three places in a parachuting accident over Southern Africa.
Despite the accident and severity of his injury, Bear went on in 1998 to become, at age 23, the youngest British climber to complete a summit and descent of Mount Everest. He wrote about his experience in the book, The Kid Who Climbed Everest.
Not content to slow down, Bear achieved another first when he and his Everest climbing group circumnavigated the United Kingdom on jet skis. He also led the first unassisted crossing of the frozen North Atlantic Ocean in an open rigid inflatable boat. His book about this adventure, Facing the Frozen Ocean, was shortlisted as the UK's "Sports Book of the Year." Bear was awarded a commission in the Royal Navy in honour of leading this record-breaking expedition.
In June 2005, Bear broke a world record by hosting a dinner party at a table suspended below a hot air balloon at 24,500 feet. He rappelled from the balloon's basket to the table, where in full naval uniform he ate a three-course meal before saluting the queen and skydiving to earth. His goal was to support the work of two charities: the Prince's Trust and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
On May 15, 2007, Bear set another world record when he became the first person to fly over Mount Everest by powered paraglider.
Bear's most recent book, Born Survivor: Survival Techniques From the Most Dangerous Places on Earth, was released in 2007.
He has hosted the Discovery Channel's Man Vs. Wild, in which he strands himself in remote locations to demonstrate localized survival techniques, since November 2006.
Bear lives on a converted barge on the River Thames with his wife Shara and their young sons Jesse, Marmaduke and Huckleberry.
BEAR’S TOP 10 LISTS
A survivalist doesn't need much to get along, but Bear has a few must-haves when he's not tangling with nature. Read his top 10 lists here.
TOP 10 QUALITIES A FAN WILL NEED TO SURVIVE FAN VS. WILD
What qualities does Bear thinks a viewer needs to survive an episode of the show with him.
10. A willingness to learn.
9. Endurance.
8. The ability to look after him- or herself when times get rough.
7. A sense of humour.
6. Resourcefulness.
5. Calm under fire.
4. Enthusiasm.
3. Courage.
2. Trustworthiness.
1. Readiness to step out of his or her comfort zone!
TOP 10 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Take a look at some typical "office" mishaps when you're Bear Grylls and your place of employment is the great outdoors!
10. Heatstroke in Zambia.
9. Near-hypothermia in Siberia and Alaska.
8. Avalanche in South America.
7. Fell down a crevasse in Patagonia.
6. Snake bite in Panama.
5. Large rock fall down a viper pit in Panama.
4. Rock falls on a scree slope in Kenya.
3. Swimming in a river with alligators nearby.
2. A 16-foot tiger shark battering my small raft.
1. Vines breaking as I’m halfway down a huge waterfall descent!
TOP 10 WAYS I PREPARE TO GO OUT IN THE FIELD
If you've seen the show at all, you'll understand number one on this list.
10. Pray.
9. Repack my parachute!
8. Pack my laminated pic of my family in my show.
7. Research the plants.
6. Research the weather.
5. Research the animals where I’m going.
4. Hang out with my family.
3. Train hard.
2. Rest well.
1. Eat well.
TOP 10 MOVIES
A favourite movie can say a lot about a person. What do these movies say about Bear?
10. Gladiator (2000)
9. Point Break (1991)
8. This is Spinal Tap (1984)
7. The Green Mile (1999)
6. Billy Elliot (2000)
5. Shadowlands (1993)
4. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
3. Forrest Gump (1994)
2. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarazan, Lord of the Apes (1984)
1. Chariots of Fire (1981)
