If Grylls is really an ex-SAS as the story

It's the reservists SAS – still fairly tough but nowhere near the same entry requirements/commitment required as the real thing. Strangely he generally just refers to it as the SAS.

watch the special with will ferrel is well funny!

I reckon he's probably alright, and I'm inclined to think he knows what he's doing, but his show is ridiculous and makes him look like a knob. But maybe he has to take what he can get to put food on the table.

Comparisons with Ray Mears are a bit misleading, I don't think their two shows are really trying to do the same thing. Rightly or wrongly Grylls' show is all about 'good' TV while Mear's seems to actually be about getting by in the back of beyond.

IMHO – Bruce Parry is the best of Mears and Gryll

Never comes across as annoying and self-rightous

You know who is annoying though- Simon Reeve, off the Tropic of Capricorn thing. I don't know how he has ended up fronting a TV program.

It's the reservists SAS – still fairly tough but nowhere near the same entry requirements/commitment required as the real thing. Strangely he generally just refers to it as the SAS.

hmm..

…spent three years with the British Special Air Service (21 SAS). What makes his story even more remarkable is that during this time he suffered a free-fall parachuting accident in Africa where he broke his back in three places.

—http://www.beargrylls.com/biography.html

seems to state pretty clearly that it was the 21 SAS?

IanMunro – Member

As an armchair survivalist, keyboard warrior and internet hard-man, I reckon in order of media icons most likely to survive for real, we have –
1) Lofty Wiseman
2) Bruce Parry
3) Davina McCall

Applauds! 🙂

Grylls was TA-SAS, and has done some fascinating stuff that never made it to TV. His shows are entertainment, not real survival. Get over it!

Oh, and Lofty would whittle a nice spoon out of Bear's femur, before making a tasty Mears Bourgoine with McCall Dumplings.

Usual inverse stw snobbery at it's finest here

He did a couple of years in 21 after OCT Bristol. never went on ops despite claims. A couple of years TA service does not equals much actual soldiering (generally).

seems to state pretty clearly that it was the 21 SAS

Yeah it does, but then look up what 21 SAS is.

A few weekends and a few weeks of training/exercises – lets you claim to have been in the SAS. Strangely never got called up for anywhere nasty though.

His shows are entertainment, not real survival.

That's not how they were originally presented though.

Absolute C**K of the first order, my hatred knows no bounds! by way of his ability, his integrity, his honesty and his huge all-consuming ego!
And like a certain 'Mcnabb' not exactly well liked in certain quarters.

The Kenyan Safari lodge/Gnarly unarmed near death bivvy incident just about sums him up. Or the magically appearing, disposable 50m rope with bolt belay for that matter.

Not jealous or anything mind 😮 Wish I could grease palm my way into that sort of job.

Noone has said that he or she knows someone who has worked with him and his team (which includes people who are paid to really know about survival) so I will then. His crew all refer to Mears as Fatty Ray.

deadlydarcy, as you mentioned it, I have a bit of experience with a few of the people mentioned in the thread- Parry, Grylls, Mears- and their ilk through work I used to do (involving research, logistics, support and crewing for the type of things they do). For what it's worth, I've can't remember hearing any serious bad words about Mears (other than him being a fatty but I never took that to be real criticism, just piss taking), Parry has some critics, but I've never heard of anyone describing Grylls as anything other than an utter knobend. Doesn't necessarily mean you should/shouldn't like their series although there are plenty of reasons why you might- I know which programmes/presenters I prefer.

C_p, you might know the same girl I do then.

I think the Mears thing is just jealousy because they'd love to be as respected. But yeah, knobend, albeit a very charming one, is one of the nicer things I've heard said.

Not that I ever expected any different.

The one where he landed on the west coast of that little known bleak wilderness, Ireland was the one of the more comedic of his efforts. FFS, walk a few miles, you'll find a brightly coloured bungalow soon enough where they'll make you a cup of tea and let you use their interweb to book a Ryanair flight home.

Can't stand the bloke…and yes I've met him … Had the misfortune of having to sit on his table at one of his record breaking attempts – a painful hour of listening to how bloody wonderful he is!

Born survivor my arse!!

Go to any sally army soup kitchen on any evening of the week to find lifes real survivors…the nfa's, the poor souls from less priveliged backgrounds fighting their own battles with depression, mental health issues, cold and hunger!!

This is all very strange. When his programmes first came out on to the TV people were saying on here how good he was and how good his programmes were. The monority were saying he's a c@ck and fabricated stuff to much slagging off by others…… how things change.

IMO the most annoying thing is his bloody voice!

oh my effing word!!

there's people getting grumpy cos a TV programme is staged and contrived!?

whatever next?
you'll be telling me next that pantomime dames are just men dressed uip as women.. and that santa isn't real..
get a grip FFS

there's people getting grumpy cos a TV programme is staged and contrived!?

You seem to be getting confused between things claiming to be factual, informative programming and drama. As are the producers of this tripe.

Get a grip FFS.

oh dear.. sorry grum.. are not up to date with this style of Tv..?

I'm aware of the programme.. and your gripe
are you 7?

FFS FFS

were you particularly shocked by the execution of Gary Glitter?
or the horrendous tretment of that suspect in 'The Bill' last week?

I'm glad that I don't live in Albert Square etc etc.. oh god those Zombies on Big Brother look nasty I hope they don't turn up round here!

silly billies

IMHO – Bruce Parry is the best of Mears and Gryll

Bruce Parry's programmes generally should be called "Bruce Parry – Getting off his face in 20 out of the way places and loving it"

> seems to state pretty clearly that it was the 21 SAS

Yeah it does, but then look up what 21 SAS is.

That's what I mean. 21st SAS is the Reservist/TA regiment and he is openly states that's what he was a member of.

Strangely never got called up for anywhere nasty though.

couple of years TA service does not equals much actual soldiering (generally).

Yeah I imagine him breaking his back in three places may have somewhat limited his soldiering career. 🙄

Saying that he 'spent three years with the British Special Air Service (21 SAS).' is disingenuous – unless you know or look up what the 21 SAS you would assume he was a full time professional member of the SAS for three years.

He was so badly injured that he couldn't possibly serve in the 'SAS' but miraculously recovered and managed to climb everest.

😆

He was so badly injured that he couldn't possibly serve in the 'SAS' but miraculously recovered and managed to climb everest.

Yeah, three crushed vertebrae after his main parachute canopy ripped at 1,600 feet, resulting in 18 months of rehabilitation at Headley Court before being discharged.

What a big blouse eh?

Mack best ex spec-ops presenter on tv, just for the phrase 'I love blowing stuff up'

Yeah, three crushed vertebrae after his main parachute canopy ripped at 1,600 feet, resulting in 18 months of rehabilitation at Headley Court before being discharged.

Wow you really love him don't you?

Never said he was a blouse – I'm sure he's much 'arder and more capable than me, I just wish he didn't feel the need to bullshit and exaggerate.

Wow you really love him don't you?

Actually I find him slightly irritating. Far too earnest, driven and enthusiastic about everything for me to have a pint with.

But I do have a lot of respect for him and I hate the typically British way that folk dismiss him and anyone else that has actually managed to achieve something.

But I do have a lot of respect for him and I hate the typically British way that folk dismiss him and anyone else that has actually managed to achieve something.

I have lots of respect for all sorts of people who have achieved plenty, as do most of the British public. Has anyone slagged off our recent winter olympics gold medal winner for instance?

What British people don't like is someone who is full of themselves, and bullshits and exaggerates their achievements for increased media profile/financial gain.

I think the lack of integrity shown by the Scouts Association is very bad.

If you are teaching children, why pick someone whose techniques are known to be actually dangerous and cavalier and which seem successful only because they are dishonestly faked? Why present 'survival' to kids in ways which could be physically dangerous to them, or to adults for that matter- who might at least be a bit less trusting or use more judgement than young children are able to.

Also why pick someone who has been so deceitful in his TV presentations? Is the Scout message 'Its OK to be dishonest in your dealings with the public if you can climb Everest'? So kids thing its OK to lie, as long as they look good? Or do you say to your kids 'Don't believe in the scout leader he talks rubbish a lot of the time' which really undermines the whole scout association and indeed, highlights its view of the children in it as being less important than having a leader with a high publicity profile?

FFS, this just in… Ray Mears also has a cameraman.

Midnighthour – I totally agree. They are obviously trying to make the scouts seem young and 'edgy' – but he's a very poor role model.

Next up on "Bear Grylls: Real Life Survival", Bear attempts to wait in a safe area next to his vehicle and calls the AA.

Gripping stuff..

As a keen wearer of the woggle, I was dismayed by his selection because of the points that Grum & Midnighthour make. However it would seem that I am in the minority…. survey.

He is also an advocate of the Alpha Course, which again makes me twitchy.

At ground level, I have seen no changes in the recruitment of adults or kids due to the publicity he provides. Neither did Peter Duncan seem to make any difference. At least Bear has not been in any soft porn films ….

Hmmm, similar to a thread a while back about Ranulph Fiennes.

Personally I am always disappointed to find out that these people are "someone" – ie as great as their personal achievements have been, they need to be viewed through the lens of easy (easier??) entry into the "club"…. and yes, if that's being "chippy" then so be it – it happens to reflect reality, sadly.

As a 19 year old I was lucky enough to go on a mountaineering expedition. I raised the money through sponsorship, donations and hard work (mainly farm labouring). I was massively inspired by that expedition, but have never really had the funds / time to follow up and do more.

Most of us will have the capability to achieve great feats of endurance and survival – either individually, or in my experience more likely through team work and camaraderie – BUT, most do not have the OPPORTUNITY.

Oh Jesus, he's god squad now as well?

Increasingly difficult for you G…you always seemed such a nice guy and BG is clearly a cock.

Next thing he'll be exaggerating his snowboard skills… 🙄

it's his claims that he's showing you what to do in survival situation that show him up to be a ****, eg, slide down a rope over an overhanging cliff when you have no idea whether the end touches the ground? i don't think so mate. if it was promoted as a bloke gooning around in semi-outdoors then fine, but he should lose the pretense of it being a guide to anything. i'm sure he's reading this and will take note.

Ray Mears everytime for me also. Gryls will feast on disgusting things you wouldnt feed your dog (not that your dog would eat it) whilst Mears cooks up some things in the same scenario that gets your mouth watering..

On the SAS thing. Sad thing is, alot of guys coming out of the army claim to have done jobs they did not in there. I know of a guy who was a army waiter or something in the catering side of things .. before he left did a diving course as part of the army re-settlement program thing .. when he comes out he suddenly turns into an ex-army diver .. 😆

21 SAS – Otherwise known as the "Artists Rifles"

=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21_Regiment_Special_Air_Service_(Artists)]

… with a reputation for attracting the "great and the good"

was in the Guinnes Book of Records as the youngest person to climb Everest.

All that tells you is that he had a hell of a privileged background. If I'd had the money I'd have been up there too.

Mears has never seemed anything other than a great bloke as far as I can tell, although he might be a bit of a tory. The fact that he's tubby can only be a good thing – after all, if he was telling you how to survive in the bush whilst looking really scrawny and underfed, you'd be a bit suspicious 🙂 And he does know his stuff – he actually trains the SAS (or has done, it's in one of his programmes). What's perhaps more impressive is that he just started learning all that stuff about survival when he was a kid, out of a genuine interest, and he made a career out of teaching it – then he ended up on telly. That's why his shows are always like school lessons 🙂

Plus he doesn't always have a cameraman – the crews are frequently buggering off to a hotel leaving him with a video camera.

it's his claims that he's showing you what to do in survival situation that show him up to be a ****, eg, slide down a rope over an overhanging cliff when you have no idea whether the end touches the ground? i don't think so mate.

Can't find that clip on YouTube, but in these set ups he generally says something along the lines of "You would try to find another way down or go around, but if you had to then…"

e.g. http://www.yourdiscovery.com/video/born-survivor-cliff-jumping/

Oh Jesus, he's god squad now as well?

Like I said, I respect him, but I wouldn't go for a pint with him 😀

On the SAS thing. Sad thing is, alot of guys coming out of the army claim to have done jobs they did not in there

Yeah, the military clearly think he is a joke: that'll be why he was hired by the MoD to promote their anti-drugs campaign and was awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve for his Atlantic expedition.