The newest season of Running Wild with Bear Grylls is debuting on Nat Geo November 5. I was not familiar with the show from its prior network, but I was able to check out a few episodes of the new season, and I must say that I am hooked and think it is has found a great home at National Geographic.
For those unfamiliar with Bear Grylls, he rose to fame on Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild series before bringing Running Wild with Bear Grylls to NBC. You may also remember him as the host of Nat Geo’s Hostile Planet. But before all of that, Bear’s story starts on a small island off the UK coast where his father taught him how to climb and sail. Later, he spent three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces as part of 21st SAS Regiment. It was there where he perfected many of his trademark survival skills. Despite a free-fall parachuting accident in Africa, where he broke his back in three places and endured many months in military rehabilitation, Grylls became one of the youngest climbers ever to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
In Running Wild with Bear Grylls our survival expert is paired with a celebrity. In the Nat Geo season, Bear is paired with Brie Larson, Joel McHale, Cara Delevingne, Rob Riggle, Armie Hammer, Dave Bautista, Channing Tatum, Alex Honnold, Bobby Bones and Zachary Quinto. Throughout the episode we get to learn fun survival tips and lessons while also getting to know a celebrity in a more intimate way than we typically get on a talk show couch.
While we know that there are certain safety measures in effect, there is no doubt that the celebrity guests are going outside of their comfort zone. While all are eager to test their skills, when it comes to various tasks that test their fears, some end up being more eager than others. And no matter what the “star” faces, you can’t help but find a new-found respect for all of the participants for even being willing to face the challenge.
Running Wild with Bear Grylls is a great fit for Nat Geo’s lineups. The first episode of the season debuts November 5 at 10/9c with new episodes airing each week.