The Sahara was probably one of the hardest episodes we have filmed - made hotter and harder by the fact that it was July out there! Two of the camera crew had to be casevac-ed with heatstroke, but after a few days at our base camp they had recovered. I also met up with a local tribe which added a whole new dimension to the show, although having to eat a massive raw goats testicle as their guest was a low point for me!Re: the recent press accusations around Man Vs Wild and any stagings in the show, all I can say is they don't always tell the full story, but that’s life and part of being in the public eye I guess.
The upshot is we’re determined to make all new shows more inclusive of the crew and their role. Discovery and Channel 4 will also include a disclaimer at the start of the show so there's no confusion.
I can't tell you how much all the support and encouraging letters and emails have meant to me during all that. Thank you.
When I get back from our family break, (we are up in the hills of Wales, lovely!) I will be back to my regular blog posting. In the meantime thanks again for so much support. It has meant a lot.
Bear x
Ps here are a few nice letters from fellow explorers who know me best.
Thanks guys.
Sir,
The recent alleged "revelations" that Bear Grylls stayed a night in a motel whilst on location filming for Man Vs Wild/Born Survivor and that some of his feats of endurance are being questioned for authenticity, leaves me irritated.
Should we really allow jealous local survival experts, past their sell-by-date adventurers and disloyal expedition organisers the time of day in print to attempt to discredit a man attempting things most of us wouldn't dream of doing and providing great entertainment on the small screen to boot.
If Bear Grylls were a fraud, as some of these detractors would have us believe, then I'd be the first to know. I witnessed first hand his paramotor flight high in the Himalaya, served in UK Special Forces alongside him, rode a jet ski around Britain with him and stood on the summit of Mt. Everest next to him.
I can assure you and your readers that he is the most courageous, honest, generous, fun, mischievous, caring and loving family man I have ever met.
Neil Laughton
Chairman, Office Projects Ltd
(World 7 Summiteer)
I thought that Born Survivor & Man Vs Wild was one of the most entertaining shows of this year, and without you it wouldn't have been possible. I hope that this all blows over quickly (funny how they are so quick to slate the show, but no mention of your many incredible achievements), and you can get on with entertaining us all with the next series.
Just to say that I am so proud with my even meagre association with you and you will foreverbesomeone I aspire to.
Jake Meyer
(current youngest World 7 summiteer and British Everest climber)
Dear Sir/Madam
The Daily Mail's attack on Bear Grylls mentions that he is 'the cheese soufflé' of the adventure world and, by way of pushing this assertion, suggests that he may not have been the youngest Brit to scale Everest, and implies that 21 SAS Regiment is not as tough as 22 SAS Regiment. I would comment that he was indeed the youngest Brit because the only possible rival claimant was clearly Australian. And that 21 SAS membership requires distinctly non-cheese soufflé people. Its comparison to 22 SAS is therefore irrelevant and cheap, suggestive journalism of a misleading nature.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
('World's greatest living explorer' Guinness book of Records)
