Early Years

As an infant, Bear moved with his parents and elder sister to the Isle of Wight from Donaghadee in Northern Ireland (where he was born on June 7th , 1974). His sister, Lara, coined the nickname ‘Bear’ when visiting her infant brother and their mother, Sarah (the daughter of Patricia Ford, aka Lady Fisher, and the cricketer Neville Montagu Ford), shortly after his birth. Their father was the late Conservative MP, former Royal Marine and lifelong Royal Yacht Squadron member Sir Michael Grylls.

Further Education and Military Career

Returning home, Bear had his sights set on a career with the MI5. Learning that a university degree was a mandatory requirement for the service, he enrolled at the University of Western England to study Spanish and German. It was while studying at the university that Bear and a friend hit upon the idea of applying to join the 21 SAS Regiment (Artists Reserve). Bear successfully passed the rigorous selection process, and served with the regiment as a reservist until 1997.

That, in a nutshell, is how it all began. So where is Bear today? Well, as we all know, the chances are he’s off in some far-flung wilderness filming his next hit TV series. But that isn’t the whole story, so let’s have a brief look at what really makes Bear tick.

Family

Bear married Shara Cannings Knight in the year 2000. Together the couple have three sons, Jesse, Marmaduke, and Huckleberry. The family have a houseboat which is moored by London’s Battersea Bridge on the River Thames, and also own the remote Saint Tudwals Island West off Abersoch on the Llŷn Peninsula, North Wales. Both Bear and Shara are committed Christians, and Bear describes his faith as the ‘backbone’ of his life.

Books

Bear is the author of numerous books in a range of genres including biography, self-help, fitness and children’s adventure fiction. He is perhaps most prolific in the latter of these categories, penning eight instalments in his popular Mission Survive series. Bear’s most recent publishing project is the healthy-eating recipe book Fuel For Life.

Charity Work

Bear’s charity work pre-dates his fame. In 2000, he staged a sponsored naked rowing challenge along the Thames in a bathtub to raise money for a friend who had lost a leg in a climbing accident, and in the same year he led a circumnavigation of the UK on jet-skis in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

In more recent years, Bear has been a vocal and active supporter of many charities, including The Prince’s Trust, Global Angels (a UK-based charity with a worldwide remit to help children who are underprivileged or in danger), and SSAFA Forces Help (a support group for former British soldiers and their families).

Social Media

Bear is active on both Twitter and Facebook. He uses his high-profile on these social networks to promote his supported charities, argue for causes close to his heart, and to publicise his various media activities and public appearances.

Scouting

Aged eight Bear joined the Cub Scouts, an organisation he has remained heavily involved with ever since. In 2009 he became the recipient of the enormous honour of being named Chief Scout. As of April 2016, Bear continues to hold the position, and he remains exceptionally proactive within the scouting movement, stating that it ‘humbles’ him every day.

Other Business Interests

Outside of his TV and other media work, Bear has tried his hand as a motivational speaker, both for profit and in a charitable capacity. He is also closely involved in the development of his range of signature adventure gear with the outdoor company Craghoppers, and has recently begun a project which organises outdoor adventure holidays for adults and children. Bear is also in collaboration with Gerber, an American knife company, in which he has a survival series comprising of survival essentials such as knives, tools, clothing, gear, and more.

So what else is there to know about Bear Grylls? Well, he’s 6 foot tall, weighs 170 pounds and is either left-handed or ambidextrous depending on who you ask, has a net worth estimated at around £7million or $10million, depending on which currency you’re more familiar with, and he’s a Gemini, not that anyone would expect him to be particularly interested in that sort of thing (although you never know).

What he certainly does still retain an all-consuming fascination for is the kind of rip-roaring adventure which would leave most people quaking in their combat boots for a week. Which is great news for the rest of us, because it means he’s bound to serve up plenty more thrilling survival action for us all to enjoy from the comfort and safety of our living rooms. And what could be better than that?

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