Bear Grylls facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bear Grylls OBE
Grylls at a meeting with Coventry Scouts groups in 2012
Born	Edward Michael Grylls (1974-06-07) 7 June 1974 (age 51) Donaghadee, Northern Ireland
Education	Eton College
Alma mater	University of the West of England, Bristol Birkbeck College
Occupation	Adventurer Author Television presenter Motivational speaker
Spouse(s)	Shara Cannings Knight ​ (m. 2000)​
Children	3
Parent(s)	Sir Michael Grylls (father)
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1994–1997
Rank	Trooper
Unit	21 SAS(R)

Edward Michael "Bear" Grylls (born 7 June 1974) is a famous British adventurer, writer, and television presenter. He is known for his incredible survival skills and for hosting many TV shows. He first became well-known for his series Man vs. Wild (2006–2011). He also hosts shows like Running Wild with Bear Grylls and The Island with Bear Grylls.

In 2009, Bear Grylls became the youngest-ever Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories for The Scout Association. He was 35 years old at the time. He has served two terms in this role, helping to inspire young people around the world.

Bear Grylls' Early Life

Bear Grylls was born in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland, on 7 June 1974. When he was just one week old, his older sister, Lara Fawcett, gave him the nickname 'Bear'. His family moved to the Isle of Wight when he was four.

From a young age, Bear learned to climb and sail with his father. As a teenager, he learned to skydive. He also earned a black belt in Shotokan karate. He can speak English, Spanish, German, and French. Bear Grylls is an Anglican Christian and has said his faith is very important to him.

Bear Grylls married Shara Cannings Knight in 2000. They have three sons.

Bear Grylls' Education and Military Service

Bear Grylls went to schools like Eton College, where he helped start a mountaineering club. He later studied Spanish and German at university.

After school, Bear Grylls hiked in the Himalayas. From 1994 to 1997, he served in the Territorial Army with the 21 SAS. His time in the SAS ended in 1996 because of a parachuting accident in Kenya. His parachute did not open, and he broke three bones in his back. He fell from 16,000 feet (about 4,877 meters) and survived.

Bear Grylls has also been given honorary ranks in the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marines Reserve. In 2024, he became an honorary colonel for the Army Foundation College.

Bear Grylls' Amazing Expeditions

Grylls in 2014

Bear Grylls is famous for his many daring expeditions and adventures.

Climbing Mount Everest

On 16 May 1998, Bear Grylls achieved his dream of climbing to the top of Mount Everest in Nepal. He was 23 years old. He did this just 18 months after his parachuting accident. To prepare for Everest, he climbed Ama Dablam in 1997. At the time, he was the youngest Briton to climb Ama Dablam.

Sailing Around the UK

In 2000, Bear Grylls led a team to travel around the British Isles on jet skis. This trip took about 30 days and raised money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Crossing the North Atlantic Ocean

In 2003, Bear Grylls led a team of five people to cross the North Atlantic Ocean. They used an open inflatable boat. They faced strong winds and huge waves, and even saw icebergs. They traveled from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to John o' Groats, Scotland.

Highest Dinner Party

In 2005, Bear Grylls set a world record for the highest outdoor formal dinner party. He had dinner under a hot-air balloon at 25,000 feet (about 7,600 meters). He wore a fancy suit and an oxygen mask. This event helped raise money for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Paramotoring Over the Himalayas

In 2007, Bear Grylls set another record by flying a Parajet paramotor in the Himalayas. He took off near Mount Everest and reached 29,500 feet (about 9,000 meters). This was almost 10,000 feet (about 3,000 meters) higher than the old record. He had to deal with very cold temperatures and low oxygen.

Journey to Antarctica

In 2008, Bear Grylls led a team to climb a remote, unclimbed peak in Antarctica. This trip aimed to raise money for a children's charity and promote clean energy. During the trip, he broke his shoulder while kite-skiing at high speeds. He had to be taken out by medical rescue.

Longest Indoor Freefall

In 2008, Bear Grylls and two friends set a Guinness world record for the longest continuous indoor freefall. They used a special wind tunnel in Milton Keynes, UK. This record attempt supported the charity Global Angels.

Northwest Passage Expedition

In 2010, Bear Grylls led a team through the Northwest Passage in an ice-breaking boat. This journey of 5,700 nautical miles (about 10,556 kilometers) aimed to show the effects of global warming. It also raised money for the Global Angels charity.

Bear Grylls' Career

Bear Grylls has had a busy career as a writer and TV presenter.

Books by Bear Grylls

Bear Grylls has written many books about his adventures and survival. His first book, Facing Up, described his climb of Mount Everest. He also wrote Facing the Frozen Ocean. His book Born Survivor: Bear Grylls was written to go with his TV show.

He has also written his autobiography, Mud, Sweat and Tears, and survival guides like A Survival Guide for Life. For younger readers, he wrote the Mission Survival series, which includes adventure books like Gold of the Gods and Way of the Wolf. He has also written motivational books like Mind Fuel and You Vs the World: The Bear Grylls Guide to Never Giving Up.

Bear Grylls on Television

Bear Grylls during a TV filming in 2016

Bear Grylls has appeared on many TV shows and commercials. He has been a guest on popular talk shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show and Late Show with David Letterman. He also appeared in a safety video for Air New Zealand.

Escape to the Legion

In 2005, Bear Grylls filmed a four-part TV show called Escape to the Legion. In this show, he and eleven other people went through a shorter version of the French Foreign Legion's desert training in the Sahara desert.

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

Bear Grylls is most famous for hosting Born Survivor: Bear Grylls, known as Man vs. Wild in many countries. In this show, he is dropped into wild places and teaches viewers how to survive. The show ran for seven seasons.

On the show, Bear Grylls did many daring things. He climbed cliffs, parachuted from planes, and ate unusual things like snakes and insects. He showed how to find water and shelter in tough environments.

Worst-Case Scenario

In 2010, Bear Grylls launched a new show called Worst-Case Scenario. It was based on popular books and showed how to handle dangerous situations.

Bear's Wild Weekend

In 2011, he made special TV episodes called Bear's Wild Weekend. In these shows, he took celebrities like Jonathan Ross and Miranda Hart on short adventures. Later, he also took Stephen Fry on an adventure.

Get Out Alive

Bear Grylls hosted Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls, a reality competition show filmed in New Zealand. It first aired in 2013.

Escape from Hell

In Bear Grylls: Escape from Hell, he shared real-life stories of people who survived extreme situations. This series premiered in 2013.

The Island

He presented The Island with Bear Grylls, which first aired in 2014. In this show, groups of people are left on a remote island to survive on their own.

Running Wild with Bear Grylls

This popular TV series, which started in 2014, features Bear Grylls taking celebrities on two-day survival trips in the wilderness. Famous guests have included Zac Efron, Kate Winslet, Ben Stiller, and even former US President Barack Obama. He also filmed a special episode with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mission Survive

In 2015, Bear Grylls presented Bear Grylls: Mission Survive. This show featured eight celebrities on a twelve-day survival challenge.

Bear Grylls Survival School

In 2016, he presented a CITV series for kids called Bear Grylls Survival School. It taught young people survival skills.

You vs. Wild

Bear Grylls also released an interactive series on Netflix called You vs. Wild. In this show, viewers can make choices for Bear Grylls, deciding how he survives.

World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji

In 2020, Grylls presented World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji. This show featured teams from around the world competing in a difficult adventure race in Fiji.

Bear Grylls Meets President Zelenskyy

In 2023, Bear Grylls traveled to Ukraine for a documentary. He met President Zelenskyy and spoke with people affected by the war.

Upcoming Shows

Bear Grylls is also involved in new shows like I Survived Bear Grylls and Celebrity Bear Hunt.

Motivational Speaking

Besides his TV work, Bear Grylls is a motivational speaker. He gives speeches around the world to inspire people in companies, schools, and other groups.

Be Military Fit

Bear Grylls is involved with "Be Military Fit with Bear Grylls". This company runs outdoor fitness classes led by former or serving members of the British Armed Forces. It is one of Europe's largest outdoor fitness companies.

Bear Grylls' Charity Work and Scouting Roles

Grylls juggling in 2016

Bear Grylls supports many charities and causes.

He is an ambassador for The Prince's Trust, which helps young people in the UK. His expeditions have raised money for charities like Global Angels, which helps children worldwide, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

His Everest climb helped SSAFA Forces Help, a charity that supports British Armed Forces members and their families. He also supports Care for Children, an organization that helps disadvantaged children find family-based care.

In 2019, Bear Grylls was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his work with young people, media, and charity.

Chief Ambassador of World Scouting

In 2018, Bear Grylls was named the first Chief Ambassador of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. He helps promote Scouting around the world, which teaches young people positive values and an adventurous spirit.

Chief Scout of The Scout Association

On 17 May 2009, Bear Grylls became the Chief Scout for The Scout Association in the UK. He was 35, making him the youngest Chief Scout since the role was created in 1920 by Robert Baden-Powell. He has continued in this role, inspiring thousands of young Scouts.

Ambassador in United24

In 2023, Bear Grylls became an ambassador for the UNITED24 platform. This platform helps raise money for Ukraine. His company is also helping to create a learning platform for Ukrainians.

Tour

In 2024, Bear Grylls went on a seven-day UK tour called "The Never Give Up Tour."

See also

In Spanish: Bear Grylls para niños