Jump to content

Bear Grylls

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Becoming Xtraordinary)

Bear Grylls
Grylls at a meeting with Coventry Scouts groups in 2012
Born
Edward Michael Grylls

(1974-06-07) 7 June 1974 (age 50)
Donaghadee, Northern Ireland
EducationEton College
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Adventurer
  • Author
  • Television presenter
  • Motivational speaker
Spouse
Shara Cannings Knight
(m. 2000)
Children3
FatherSir Michael Grylls
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1994–1997
RankTrooper
Unit21 SAS(R)
Websitebeargrylls.com

Edward Michael "Bear" Grylls OBE (/ˈɡrɪlz/; born 7 June 1974) is a British adventurer, writer, television presenter and former SAS trooper who is also a survival expert. He first drew attention after embarking on a number of notable adventures, including several world records in hostile environments, and then became widely known for his television series Man vs. Wild (2006–2011). He is also involved in a number of wilderness survival television series in the UK and US, such as Running Wild with Bear Grylls and The Island with Bear Grylls. In July 2009, Grylls was appointed as The Scout Association’s youngest-ever Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories at the age of 35, a post he has held for a second term since 2015 and in 2024 became the second longest serving Chief Scout after Robert Baden-Powell. On 5 September 2024, Grylls was succeeded as Chief Scout by Dwayne Fields.[1]

Personal life

Grylls was born in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland, on 7 June 1974.[2][3] His family has a strong cricketing background, his grandfather Neville Ford and great-great-grandfather William Augustus Ford having both been first-class cricketers. He is the son of Conservative politician Sir Michael Grylls and his wife Sarah "Sally" (née Ford). Her mother Patricia (née Smiles), was briefly an MP, succeeding her father; later she married an MP.[4] Grylls has one sibling, an elder sister, Lara Fawcett, who gave him the nickname 'Bear' when he was a week old.[5]

He lived in Donaghadee until the age of four, when his family moved to Bembridge on the Isle of Wight.[6][7] From an early age, he learned to climb and sail with his father, who was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron. As a teenager, he learned to skydive and earned a second dan black belt in Shotokan karate.[8] He speaks English, Spanish, German and French.[9] He is an Anglican,[10] and has described his Christian faith as the "backbone" in his life:[11] "You can't keep God out. He's all around us, if we're just still enough to listen."[12]

Grylls married Shara Cannings Knight in 2000.[13] They have three sons, born in 2003, 2006 and 2009.[14][15]

In August 2015, Grylls left his 11-year-old son on Saint Tudwal's Island off the North Wales coast, as the tide approached, leaving him to be rescued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) as part of their weekly practice missions. The child was unharmed, though the RNLI later criticised Grylls for the stunt, saying its crew "had not appreciated" that a child would be involved.[16]

Grylls used to be a vegan but now consumes a diet predominant in animal-based foods as well as fruits and honey.[17] In 2024, he commented to The Irish Times that he was proud to be an Irish citizen.[18]

Education

Grylls was educated at Eaton House, Ludgrove School and Eton College, where he helped start its first mountaineering club.[19] He studied Spanish and German at the University of the West of England, Bristol[20] and at Birkbeck College,[21] where he graduated with a 2:2 bachelor's degree, obtained part-time, in Hispanic studies in 2002.[22][23]

Military service

Grylls inspecting junior soldiers passing out of AFC Harrogate in 2024

After leaving school, Grylls hiked in the Himalayan mountains of Sikkim and West Bengal.[24] From 1994–1997, he served in the Territorial Army with 21 SAS as a trooper. His time in the SAS ended as the result of a free fall parachuting accident in Kenya in 1996;[25][26] his parachute failed to open, causing him to break three vertebrae. At 16,000 feet, his fall is one of the highest ever to be survived without a functional parachute.[26]

In 2004, Grylls was awarded the honorary rank of lieutenant commander in the Royal Naval Reserve.[27] Then in 2013 he was awarded the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Marines Reserve,[28] and promoted to honorary colonel in June 2021.[29] In April 2024, Grylls was appointed honorary colonel of the Army Foundation College, serving as a figurehead for the college, a role once held by Captain Tom Moore.[30] As such, he was granted a commission in the British Army as a local colonel for the duration of the appointment.[31]

Expeditions

Grylls in 2014

Everest

On 16 May 1998, Grylls achieved his childhood dream of climbing to the summit of Mount Everest in Nepal, 18 months after breaking three vertebrae in a parachuting accident.[32] At 23, he was at the time among the youngest people to have achieved this feat. There is some dispute over whether he was the youngest Briton to have done so, as he was preceded by James Allen, a climber holding dual Australian and British citizenship, who reached the summit in 1995 at age 22.[33] The record has since been surpassed by Jake Meyer and then Rob Gauntlett who summitted at age 19. To prepare for climbing at such high altitudes in the Himalayas, in 1997, Grylls became the youngest Briton to climb Ama Dablam, a peak once described by Sir Edmund Hillary as "unclimbable", although now the third most popular in the Himalayas for permitted expeditions.[34]

Circumnavigation of the UK

In 2000, Grylls led the team to circumnavigate the British Isles on jet skis,[27] taking about 30 days, to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). He also rowed naked in a homemade bathtub along the Thames to raise funds for a friend who lost his legs in a climbing accident.[32]

Crossing the North Atlantic

In 2003, he led a team of five, including his childhood friend, SAS colleague, and Mount Everest climbing partner Mick Crosthwaite, on an unassisted crossing of the north Atlantic Ocean, in an open rigid inflatable boat. Grylls and his team travelled in an eleven-metre-long boat and encountered force 8 gale winds with waves breaking over the boat while passing through icebergs in their journey from Halifax, Nova Scotia to John o' Groats, Scotland.[35]

Dinner party at altitude

In 2005, alongside the balloonist and mountaineer David Hempleman-Adams and Lieutenant Commander Alan Veal, leader of the Royal Navy Freefall Parachute Display Team, Grylls created a world record for the highest open-air formal dinner party, which they did under a hot-air balloon at 7,600 metres (25,000 ft), dressed in full mess dress and oxygen masks.[36] To train for the event, he made over 200 parachute jumps.[37] This event was in aid of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and The Prince's Trust.[38]

Paramotoring over the Himalayas

In 2007, Grylls embarked on a record-setting Parajet paramotor in Himalayas near Mount Everest. He took off from 4,400 metres (14,500 ft), 8 miles (13 km) south of the mountain. Grylls reported looking down on the summit during his ascent and coping with temperatures of −60 °C (−76 °F). He endured dangerously low oxygen levels and eventually reached 9,000 metres (29,500 ft), almost 3,000 metres (10,000 ft) higher than the previous record of 6,102 metres (20,019 ft). The feat was filmed for Discovery Channel worldwide as well as Channel 4 in the UK.[39] While Grylls initially planned to cross over Everest itself, the permit was only to fly to the south of Everest, and he did not traverse Everest out of risk of violating Chinese airspace.[40]

Journey Antarctica 2008

In 2008, Grylls led a team of four to climb one of the most remote unclimbed peaks in the world in Antarctica, to raise funds for children's charity Global Angels and promote the use of alternative energies. During this mission the team also aimed to explore the coast of Antarctica by inflatable boat and jetski, part powered by bioethanol, and then to travel across some of the vast ice desert by wind-powered kite-ski and electric powered paramotor. However, the expedition was cut short after Grylls suffered a broken shoulder while kite skiing across a stretch of ice. Travelling at speeds up to 50 km/h (30 mph), a ski caught on the ice, launching him in the air and breaking his shoulder when he came down. He had to be medically evacuated.[41]

Longest indoor freefall

Grylls, along with the double amputee Al Hodgson and the Scotsman Freddy MacDonald, set a Guinness world record in 2008 for the longest continuous indoor freefall. The previous record was 1 hour 36 minutes by a US team. Grylls, Hodgson, and MacDonald, using a vertical wind tunnel in Milton Keynes, broke the record by a few seconds. The attempt was in support of the charity Global Angels.[42][43][44]

Northwest Passage expedition

In September 2010, Grylls led a team of five to take an ice-breaking rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) through 5,700 nautical miles (10,600 km) of the ice-strewn Northwest Passage. The expedition intended to raise awareness of the effects of global warming and to raise money for children's charity Global Angels.[45][46]

Career

Books

Grylls' first book, Facing Up (UK)/The Kid Who Climbed Everest (US), described his expedition and achievements climbing to the summit of Mount Everest. His second was Facing the Frozen Ocean. His third book Born Survivor: Bear Grylls was written to accompany the TV series of the same name. He also wrote an extreme guide to outdoor pursuits, titled Bear Grylls Outdoor Adventures.[47]

In 2011, Grylls released his autobiography, Mud, Sweat and Tears: The Autobiography,[48] followed by A Survival Guide for Life in late 2012 and True Grit in 2013.[49]

Grylls also wrote the Mission Survival series of children's adventure survival books titled: Mission Survival: Gold of the Gods, Mission Survival: Way of the Wolf, Mission Survival: Sands of the Scorpion, Mission Survival: Tracks of the Tiger and Mission Survival: Claws of the Crocodile. He has written two thriller novels based around his character Will Jaeger; Ghost Flight released in 2015[50] and Burning Angels in 2016.[51]

In 2019, Grylls published a Christian devotional titled Soul Fuel.[52]

In October 2021, Grylls released his second autobiography, Never Give Up; covering some of his most memorable events and adventures.[53]

In 2022, Grylls published Mind Fuel: Simple Ways to Build Mental Resilience Every Day.[54] Grylls told The Christian Post that it "offers honest and practical ways to practice better mental health... a crucial part of living a healthy, God-glorying life."[55]

In April 2023, Grylls released You Vs the World: The Bear Grylls Guide to Never Giving Up; a motivational book aimed at children.[56]

In September 2023, How to be a Scout, was released by Grylls.[57]

Television

Bear Grylls during a TV filming in 2016

Grylls was used by the UK Ministry of Defence to head the Army's anti-drugs TV campaign, and featured in the first ever major advertising campaign for Harrods. Grylls has been a guest on numerous talk shows including Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Attack of the Show!, Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Harry Hill's TV Burp. Grylls recorded two advertisements for Post's Trail Mix Crunch Cereal, which aired in the US from January 2009. He also appeared as a "distinguished instructor" in Dos Equis' Most Interesting Academy in a webisode named "Survival in the Modern Era". He appeared in a five-part web series that demonstrates urban survival techniques and features Grylls going from bush to bash. He also has marketed the Alpha Course, a course on the basics of the Christian faith. In 2013, Grylls appeared in an airline safety video for Air New Zealand entitled Bear Essentials of Safety, filmed against the backdrop of the Routeburn Track on the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island.[58] In 2014, Grylls appeared on Piers Morgan's Life Stories.

Escape to the Legion

Grylls filmed a four-part TV show in 2005, called Escape to the Legion, which followed Grylls and eleven other "recruits" as they took part in a shortened re-creation of the French Foreign Legion's basic desert training in the Sahara. The show was first broadcast in the UK on Channel 4,[59] and in the US on the Military Channel.[60]

Born Survivor/Man vs. Wild

Grylls in front of an Alaska Air National Guard, 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter before heading out to Spencer Glacier to film Man vs. Wild

Grylls hosts a series titled Born Survivor: Bear Grylls for the British Channel 4 and broadcast as Man vs. Wild in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, and the United States, and as Ultimate Survival on the Discovery Channel in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The series features Grylls dropped into inhospitable places, showing viewers how to survive. Man vs. Wild debuted in 2006, and its success led it to lasting seven seasons over five years.

The show has featured stunts including Grylls climbing cliffs, parachuting from helicopters, balloons, and planes, paragliding, ice climbing, running through a forest fire, wading rapids, eating snakes, wrapping his urine-soaked T-shirt around his head to help stave off the desert heat, drinking urine saved in a rattlesnake skin, drinking fecal liquid from elephant dung, eating deer droppings, wrestling alligators, field dressing a camel carcass and drinking water from it, eating various "creepy crawlies" (insects), using the corpse of a sheep as a sleeping bag and flotation device, free climbing waterfalls and using a bird guano/water enema for hydration.[61][62]

The show caused controversy after a programme consultant revealed that Grylls actually stayed in a hotel on some nights — including an episode in Hawaii in which Grylls was ostensibly stranded on a deserted island — and that certain scenes were staged for him.[63] Grylls subsequently told viewers, "If people felt misled … I'm really sorry for that."[63]

In March 2012, the Discovery Channel dropped Grylls from its line-up because of a contractual dispute,[64][65] although he has worked with them again.

In August 2019, Bear Grylls appeared with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in a special episode shot in the India's Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand. The episode was showcased in more than 180 countries across the world on the Discovery, Inc. network.[66]

Worst-Case Scenario

In 2010, Grylls came out with a new project titled Worst-Case Scenario which aired on Discovery in the US. It is based on the popular books of the same name.[67] Twelve episodes were produced before the show was cancelled.[68]

Bear's Wild Weekend

In 2011, he made two specials under the title Bear's Wild Weekend for Channel 4 in the UK which was broadcast over the Christmas holiday that year. Each special featured Grylls taking either Jonathan Ross or Miranda Hart on short two-day adventures; Ross to rainforest in the Canary Islands, Hart to the Swiss Alps.[69] These screened in the US under the title Bear Grylls' Wild Adventure. A third episode with Stephen Fry, this time in the Dolomite mountains of South Tyrol, screened in late 2013.[70]

In 2014, two further episodes were aired in the UK under the title Wild Weekends. The first of these was the 2011 special of Man vs. Wild featuring Jake Gyllenhaal,[71] and the second was the Running Wild episode featuring Ben Stiller.[72]

Get Out Alive

Grylls hosted Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls, a reality competition series filmed in New Zealand, which premiered on NBC on 8 July 2013.[73][74]

Escape from Hell

In Bear Grylls: Escape from Hell, he reveals the true life stories of ordinary people trapped in extraordinary situations of survival. The six-episode series premiered on the Discovery Channel in the UK on 4 October 2013, and in the US on 11 November 2013.[75]

The Island

He presented The Island with Bear Grylls, first shown on Channel 4 on 5 May 2014. An American version of the show was also made and it premiered on 25 May 2015 on NBC.[76]

Running Wild with Bear Grylls

In this adventure TV series from NBC, which premiered on 28 July 2014, Grylls takes celebrities on a two-day trip in the wilderness. The celebrities who took part in Season 1 are Zac Efron, Ben Stiller, Tamron Hall, Deion Sanders, Channing Tatum, and Tom Arnold.[77][78] Celebrities who took part in Season 2 were Kate Winslet, Kate Hudson, Drew Brees, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed Helms, Michelle Rodriguez, Ajay Devgan,[79] Akshay Kumar, Rajanikanth,[80] India's prime minister Narendra Modi,[81] James Marsden, Michael B. Jordan, and President Barack Obama.[82]

Mission Survive

In 2015, he began presenting the six-part ITV series Bear Grylls: Mission Survive which features eight celebrities on a twelve-day survival mission. The series began airing on 20 February 2015.[83] Mission Survive returned for a second series in 2016.[84]

Bear Grylls Survival School

In 2016, he presented a CITV series called Bear Grylls Survival School. Filming started in August 2015. The series began airing on 10 January 2016.[85][86] A second series was scheduled to begin on 7 January 2017.

Survivor Games

In summer 2015, China's Dragon TV ordered a Grylls-fronted adventure series titled Survivor Games [zh] (Chinese: 跟着贝尔去冒险). The series featured Grylls and eight Chinese celebrities and premiered on Dragon TV on 16 October 2015.[87]

Bear's Mission

In 2018, ITV began airing a new series similar to the USA series Running Wild with Bear Grylls called Bear's Mission with... This show focuses on one British celebrity taking an overnight adventure with Bear each episode. The series premiered on ITV in early 2018.[88]

You vs. Wild

Later, Grylls went on to release an interactive series on streaming service Netflix.

World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji

Grylls presented the revival of the Eco-Challenge series, which is titled World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji. It involved teams from around the world competing in an adventure race, which took place in Fiji. The series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 14 August 2020.[89]

Bear Grylls Wild Adventure

Spring 2021, two-part ITV series featuring Jonny Wilkinson and Nicola Adams, respectively.[90]

Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge

Premiered in July 2022, it is a spin-off of Grylls' long running Running Wild with Bear Grylls series.[91] The series returned for a second season on 9 July 2023.[92]

Bear Grylls Meets President Zelenskyy

In this documentary that aired on Channel 4 on 28 March 2023, Grylls travels to Ukraine to meet President Zelenskyy and to meet civilians caught up in the war with Russia.[93]

I Survived Bear Grylls

Eight-part competition series; co-hosted with comedian Jordan Conley.[94]

Bear Hunt

Upcoming reality competition series starring Grylls, and presented by Holly Willoughby. The series will premiere on Netflix in 2025.[95]

Motivational speaking

Outside of TV, Grylls works as a motivational speaker, giving speeches worldwide to corporations, churches, schools, and other organisations.[32][65]

Be Military Fit

Bear Grylls Ventures and NM Capital purchased British Military Fitness in September 2018 and re-branded as "Be Military Fit with Bear Grylls", to retain the existing abbreviation BMF. The company runs outdoor group fitness classes in 140 public parks and outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom. The classes are led by former or serving members of the British Armed Forces with recognised fitness training qualifications. It is Europe's largest outdoor fitness company.[96][97][98][99]

Charity and politics

Grylls juggling in 2016

Grylls is an ambassador for The Prince's Trust, an organisation which provides training, financial, and practical support to young people in the United Kingdom.[15]

Global Angels, a UK charity which seeks to aid children around the world, were the beneficiaries of his 2007 accomplishment of taking a powered para-glider higher than Mount Everest. Grylls' held the highest ever dinner party at 7,600 metres (25,000 ft) in aid of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, and launched the 50th anniversary of the Awards. His successful circumnavigation of Britain on jet skis raised money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Grylls' Everest climb was in aid of SSAFA Forces Help, a British-based charitable organisation set up to help former and serving members of the British Armed Forces and their families and dependents. His 2003 Arctic expedition detailed in the book Facing the Frozen Ocean was in aid of The Prince's Trust. His 2005 attempt to para-motor over the Angel Falls was in aid of the charity Hope and Homes for Children.[100]

In August 2010, Grylls continued his fund-raising work for Global Angels by undertaking an expedition through the Northwest Passage in a rigid inflatable boat. Many of his expeditions also support environmental causes such as his Antarctica expedition and his circumnavigation of Britain which tested a pioneering new fuel made from rubbish. In 2011, Grylls was in New Zealand during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Following the incident, he appeared on New Zealand advertisements encouraging people to donate money to help rebuild the city.[101][102]

Grylls is also an ambassador for Care for Children, an organisation that partners with governments in Asia to help create a positive alternative to institutional care through local family-based care for disadvantaged children.[103] In 2014, Grylls designed a Scouts-themed Paddington Bear statue, one of fifty located around London prior to the release of the film Paddington, which was auctioned to raise funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).[104]

Grylls said he spoke "from the heart" in backing "Remain" in the 2016 referendum. "At such a time for the UK to retreat, run and cut ourselves loose from Europe, when there are so many challenges on our doorstep, to me just doesn't feel either courageous or kind," he said. "Europe has many flaws, but I also believe the way to help resolve many of those tough issues is from within... I have never been a good quitter and I am so proud of the UK and our values: tolerance, kindness, respect, courage and resilience. This is why I want us to stay together and Remain in Europe."[105] In January 2020, he announced that he had asserted his right to Irish citizenship and had obtained an Irish passport.[106]

Grylls was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to young people, the media and charity.[107]

Positions in Scouting

Grylls speaking in 2016

Designation of Chief Ambassador of World Scouting

On 16 November 2018, The World Organization of the Scout Movement announced the appointment of Bear Grylls as its first Chief Ambassador.[108] Upon his appointment, he said "I'm very proud and humbled to take on this new role as Chief Ambassador of World Scouting and continue to promote the great work Scouting is doing across the globe. Scouting is a worldwide force for good that unites young people with positive values and an adventurous spirit. We aim to make a difference in our communities, help young people learn new skills, and be kind to all people."[108]

Bear has long been a supporter of Scouting around the world, often visiting Scout groups on his filming missions, and appeared at the 24th World Scout Jamboree in his role as Chief Ambassador[109]

Term as Chief Scout of the Scout Association

On 17 May 2009, The Scout Association announced Grylls would be appointed Chief Scout following the end of Peter Duncan's five-year term in July 2009.[110] He was officially made Chief Scout at Gilwell 24 on 11 July 2009 at age 35[111][112] in a handover event featuring Peter Duncan in front of a crowd of over 3,000 Explorer Scouts. He is the tenth person to hold the position and the youngest Chief Scout since the role was created for Robert Baden-Powell in 1920.[111][113][114]

On 9 April 2015, The Scout Association announced that Grylls would continue as Chief Scout until 2018. Grylls wrote, "I am so proud that the largest youth movement on the planet has asked me to continue in my role as UK Chief Scout."[115]

On 5 June 2015, in an interview with The Telegraph, Grylls praised the challenge of being Britain's youngest Chief Scout, saying: "Scouting humbles me every day."[116] He was succeeded as Chief Scout in 2024 by Dwayne Fields.[1][117]

Ambassador in United24

On 29 March 2023, Grylls became an ambassador for the UNITED24 platform. His learning and development company BecomingX, together with Amazon and Accenture, is developing the BecomingX Ukraine learning platform for Ukrainians.[118][119]

Tour

  • "The Never Give Up Tour" (2024); seven-day UK tour[120]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Adventurer Dwayne Fields to succeed Bear Grylls as new UK chief scout". Bracknell News. PA News Agency. 5 September 2024.
  2. ^ Bain, Mark (23 May 2023). "NI-born Bear Grylls to learn family history on BBC show: 'I'm doing it for my mum'". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  3. ^ Tiwari, Anuj (6 June 2023). "7 June What Happened On This Day In History". IndiaTimes. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Obituary: Sir Michael Grylls" Archived 25 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Telegraph.co.uk, 13 February 2001.
  5. ^ Dudman, Jane (12 January 2011). "Leading questions: Bear Grylls, chief Scout". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Sunday Life reclaims the celebs with Ulster ties". The Belfast Telegraph. 1 November 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  7. ^ "My Life In Travel: Bear Grylls", Independent.co.uk, 17 April 2004.
  8. ^ Snape, Joel (13 May 2015). "Bear Grylls: 'I'm 40, and fitter than I've ever been'". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Ask Bear Your Questions" Archived 1 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, BearGrylls.com; accessed 3 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Beauty is not enough for the Church – CatholicHerald.co.uk". catholicherald.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  11. ^ Greig, Pete (2016). "Foreword". Dirty Glory: Go Where Your Best Prayers Take You. Hodder. ISBN 978-1-63146-616-8.
  12. ^ Grylls, Bear (2004). Facing the Frozen Ocean: One Man's Dream to Lead a Team Across the Treacherous North Atlantic. London: Pan Macmillan. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-4472-2778-6.
  13. ^ "Out of the Wild: Bear Grylls survives the urban jungle". mensvogue.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
  14. ^ Bear Grylls Welcomes Son Huckleberry Archived 17 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine Celebrity Baby Blog, 15 January 2009
  15. ^ a b "Biography". BearGrylls.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  16. ^ "Bear Grylls criticised by RNLI after he leaves own son stranded on island rocks" Archived 25 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Hannah Furness, The Daily Telegraph, 9 August 2015.
  17. ^ Corless, Blathnaid (11 May 2023). "Bear Grylls 'embarrassed' by his vegan advocacy and regrets cookbook". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Bear Grylls: 'I'm a very proud Irish citizen. Since Brexit, the connection has saved the day'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  19. ^ Kate Mikhail (11 November 2001). "Life support". Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  20. ^ Tianna Graham (7 July 2016). "Did you know these celebrities studied in Bristol?". The University Paper. London. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  21. ^ "History of Birkbeck: 1900s". Birkbeck. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  22. ^ "Notable alumni". Birkbeck. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  23. ^ Peston, Robert and Lynda La Plante (7 May 2013). "You may have a first-class degree – but Lord Winston doesn't want you". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Bear Grylls". hmforces.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  25. ^ Bear Grylls Archived 5 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine at sasspecialairservice.com
  26. ^ a b Kelly, Jon (17 June 2013). "Five survivors of spectacular falls". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  27. ^ a b "Bear Grylls (Edward Michael Grylls): A lifetime of adventure" (PDF). The Scout Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  28. ^ "Royals' Bear Force as Adventurer Joins Cadets at Lympstone and Dartmouth". News & Events. Royal Navy. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  29. ^ "No. 63542". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 November 2021. p. 21618.
  30. ^ "Bear Grylls joins forces with British Army". army.mod.uk. British Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  31. ^ "No. 64447". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 July 2024. p. 12766. Mr Edward Michael Bear GRYLLS OBE is appointed Honorary Colonel Army Foundation College Harrogate 19 April 2024 and in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4 of the Officers' Commissions (Army) Order 1967 is commissioned in His Majesty's Land Forces in the rank of Local Colonel for the duration of the appointment in an existing vacancy
  32. ^ a b c Blundell, Joanna (7 April 2003). "A Boys Own adventure". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022.
  33. ^ Summit Magazine No. 40, Winter 2005, page 12
  34. ^ Lambert, John (2006). Portraits of the Himalayas. Troubador Publishing. p. 51. ISBN 0955288401.
  35. ^ "Bear completes Arctic journey". BBC. 15 August 2003. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  36. ^ "Dining with altitude". Press Association. London. 30 June 2005. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016 – via The Guardian.
  37. ^ "Navigating the Backwoods with Bear Grylls". Real World Survivor. 28 July 2014. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  38. ^ "Bios: Bear Grylls". Discovery Channel. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013.
  39. ^ Grylls, Bear, "Flying Into A Dream", Telegraph.co.uk; 19 May 2007
  40. ^ Martin, Nicole, "Explorer hits heights with Himalayan record", Telegraph.co.uk, 16 May 2007.
  41. ^ "Diary: From Bear" Archived 6 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine, journeyAntarctica2008.com, 6 December 2008.
  42. ^ "Bear Grylls". Londonspeakerbureau.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  43. ^ Peotv, Slt (2 March 2014). "Things Bear Grylls Did That You Didn'T Know". PeoTV. Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  44. ^ Tara John (1 September 2015). "Bear Grylls: Everything You Need to Know". Time. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  45. ^ "Maritime Journal | Bear Grylls' RIB completes North West Passage". www.maritimejournal.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  46. ^ "Our journey | Future Capital Partners and Bear Grylls – Northwest Passage". 28 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  47. ^ Grylls, Bear (2008). Bear Grylls great outdoor adventures. London: Channel 4 Books. ISBN 978-1905026524.
  48. ^ Grylls, Bear (2012). Mud, sweat, and tears: the autobiograph. New York: William Morrow. p. 408. ISBN 978-0-06-212419-7.
  49. ^ A Survival Guide for Life: How to Achieve Your Goal, Thrive in Adversity, and Grow in Character. New York: William Morrow. 2012. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-06-227195-2. OCLC 818737912.
  50. ^ Bear Grylls (2015). Ghost Flight. Orion. ISBN 978-1-4091-5684-0.
  51. ^ Bear Grylls (2016). Burning Angels. Orion. ISBN 978-1-4091-5688-8.
  52. ^ Grylls, Bear (2019). Soul Fuel. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. ISBN 9780310453642.
  53. ^ Grylls, Bear (2021). Never Give Up. London: Bantam Press. ISBN 978-1787634190.
  54. ^ Grylls, Bear (2022). Mind Fuel: Simple Ways to Build Mental Resilience Every Day. John Murray Press. ISBN 978-1-3998-0510-0. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  55. ^ Klett, Leah MarieAnn (14 January 2023). "Bear Grylls says faith is 'key part of survivor's toolbox,' laments 'fluff' permeating Western Church". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  56. ^ You Vs the World: The Bear Grylls Guide to Never Giving Up. ASIN 0744070678.
  57. ^ Do Your Best: How to be a Scout. ASIN 1399809873.
  58. ^ "Safety video on The Guardian website". TheGuardian.com. 28 February 2013. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  59. ^ "Escape to the Legion" Archived 5 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine Channel4.com
  60. ^ "Military Channel: TV Listings: Escape to the Legion". The Military Channel. 2007. Archived from the original on 26 May 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  61. ^ Barrett, Annie (24 June 2009). "'Man vs. Wild' returns with Bear giving himself an enema". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  62. ^ "Man vs. Wild/Guano Enema(Discovery Channel Video)". Dsc.discovery.com. 22 December 2010. Archived from the original on 22 September 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  63. ^ a b "Entertainment | Grylls apologises for 'fake' show". BBC News. 19 March 2008. Archived from the original on 5 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  64. ^ BBC News, 14 March 2012, Bear Grylls sacked by Discovery Channel Archived 17 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine, bbc.co.uk; retrieved 11 November 2012.
  65. ^ a b Michael Roberts (7 August 2012). "Gone with the Wind". Outside Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  66. ^ "PM Modi to discuss wildlife issues in Discovery's 'Man vs Wild' episode". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 29 July 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  67. ^ "Outside Online May 2010 Issue". Outsideonline.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  68. ^ "TBS will bow 'Worst Case'.(reality show 'Worst-Case Scenario')(Brief Article)". Daily Variety. 20 March 2002. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017.
  69. ^ "Bear's Wild Weekend...C4". Broadcast. 22 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  70. ^ Jade Bremner (4 December 2013). "Stephen Fry to join Bear Grylls on a Wild Weekend". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  71. ^ "'Man Vs. Wild' Preview: Guest Adventurer Jake Gyllenhaal's Insurance Company Will Freak Out (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  72. ^ Adewunmi, Bim (11 December 2014). "Bear's Wild Weekend With Ben Stiller – review: Action Man meets wilderness wannabe on the Isle of Skye". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  73. ^ "Camp, American Ninja Warrior, Save Me, Get Out Alive: NBC Announces Premieres | canceled + renewed TV shows". TV Series Finale. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  74. ^ Rick Kissell (15 April 2013). "NBC to Air 'Bear Grylls', 'American Ninja Warrior' on Mondays". Variety. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  75. ^ Amanda Kondolojy (6 November 2013). "Bear Grylls is Back on Discovery Channel in 'Bear Grylls: Escape From Hell'". TVbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013.
  76. ^ Sara Bibel (28 April 2015). "NBC Reveals the Cast of New Reality Series 'The Island'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015.
  77. ^ Rita Sherrow (27 July 2014). "Zac Efron, Channing Tatum and Ben Stiller are 'Running Wild With Bear Grylls' starting Monday on NBC". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  78. ^ Douglas Cobb (28 July 2014). "Running Wild With Bear Grylls: 48 Hours With Zac Efron". The Guardian Liberty Voice. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  79. ^ "Ajay Devgn's Into The Wild with Bear Grylls trailer highlights his survival instinct in the Indian Ocean. Watch". Hindustan Times. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  80. ^ "After Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar, into the Wild with Bear Grylls' next guest is Ajay Devgn". 12 September 2021. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  81. ^ "PM Modi to Akshay Kumar, Vicky Kaushal, 5 Indian celebs who have been on Bear Grylls' show". Asianet Newsable. 10 November 2021. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  82. ^ Running Wild with Bear Grylls Archived 28 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine, nbc.com; accessed 15 August 2015.
  83. ^ John Plunkett (27 January 2015). "Bear Grylls pushes celebrities to the limit in Mission Survive". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  84. ^ "Bear Grylls' 'Mission Survive' returning for second series" Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine, itv.com; accessed 15 August 2015.
  85. ^ Bear Grylls Survival School Archived 2 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine, itv.com; accessed 15 August 2015.
  86. ^ Bear Grylls to front Citv adventure show Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, digitalspy.co.uk; accessed 21 August 2015.
  87. ^ China's Dragon TV orders Bear Grylls' "Survivor Games" Archived 8 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine, realscreen.com; accessed 16 October 2015.
  88. ^ "Bear's Mission Series and Episode Guides | TV from RadioTimes". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  89. ^ "Amazon's Eco-Challenge will have 66 teams racing in Fiji – and a new name". reality blurred. 1 August 2019. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  90. ^ "ITV commissions Bear Grylls Wild Adventure Specials". itv.com/presscentre. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  91. ^ "Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge". natgeotv.com/asia. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  92. ^ "Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge" Season 2 Trailer Released". whatsondisneyplus.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  93. ^ "Bear Grylls Meets President Zelenskyy". channel4.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  94. ^ "TBS' New Competition Series "I Survived Bear Grylls" To Premiere On Thursday, May 18". wbd.com. 11 April 2023. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  95. ^ Kanter, Jake (14 March 2024). "Netflix UK Unscripted Slate: Bear Grylls, Holly Willoughby Team For 'Bear Hunt'; Guy Ritchie Boards True Crime Doc 'Millennium Diamond Heist'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  96. ^ "BMF teams up with Bear Grylls and rebrands as 'Be Military Fit'". Leisure Opportunities. 27 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  97. ^ "British Military Fitness becomes Be Military Fit with Bear Grylls". bemilitaryfit.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  98. ^ Mark Hookham, Nicholas Hellen and (30 September 2018). "Bear Grylls gets military fitness firm in shape by shedding British connection". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  99. ^ "BMF teams up with Bear Grylls and rebrands as 'Be Military Fit'". Health Club Management. 27 September 2018. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  100. ^ Murray Norton (20 October 2005). "Fancy An Adventure". Webchats.tv. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  101. ^ "The Island With Bear Grylls". TVNZ Ondemand. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  102. ^ "Bear Grylls – Global Angels Global Angels". Globalangels.org. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  103. ^ "Patrons & Ambassadors – Who We Are – Care For Children – Family First in Asia". careforchildren.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  104. ^ "Why Paddington Bear Statues Have Taken Over London". Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  105. ^ "The celebrities that support Brexit (and the ones backing Remain)". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  106. ^ Deirdre Falvey (9 January 2020). "Bear Grylls's Dublin surprise: He's Irish, and he has the passport to prove it". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  107. ^ "No. 62666". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 2019. p. B12.
  108. ^ a b "Bear Grylls appointed as first Chief Ambassador of World Scouting". www.scout.org. 16 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  109. ^ "CHIEF AMBASSADOR BEAR GRYLLS INSPIRES MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AT WORLD SCOUT JAMBOREE". 24 July 2019. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  110. ^ Pugh, Oliver, "Grylls puts on his woggle and scouts out a new challenge" Independent.co.uk, 18 May 2009.
  111. ^ a b Quinn, Ben, "Survivalist Bear Grylls named as new Chief Scout" Archived 5 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine Guardian.co.uk, 17 May 2009.
  112. ^ "Chief Scout Bear Grylls". Scouts. 15 July 2023. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  113. ^ "Scouts announce TV adventurer Bear Grylls reappointed as chief". Grough. 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  114. ^ "Bear Grylls announced as new Chief Scout" Archived 21 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Scouts.org.uk, 17 May 2009.
  115. ^ "Bear Grylls to stay on as Chief Scout until 2018". The Scout Association. 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  116. ^ "Bear Grylls on the merits of being Chief Scout". The Telegraph. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  117. ^ "Chief Scout - Scouts". Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  118. ^ "UNITED24". Telegram. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  119. ^ "Bear Grylls is a UNITED24 ambassador: the global adventurer has joined President Zelenskyy's fundraising platform". u24.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  120. ^ "The Never Give Up Tour". ticketmaster.co.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
The Scout Association
Preceded by Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories
2009–present
Incumbent