Bear Grylls has made a name for himself as a survival expert and authoritative presenter thanks to his appearances in a series of television shows. The most famous of them is probably Man vs. Wild. In this series, Grylls attempts to demonstrate to the viewer exactly how they can survive in the wilderness by using materials from nature and special techniques. Although it has not been on air since 2012, it still remains a popular survival franchise.
However, the series has faced lots of criticism. Many believe that certain scenes may not be as authentic as they are portrayed or that the advice given could be inaccurate. As you can imagine, both Grylls and Discovery are keen for the general public not to know about the less than savory things done on the show.
15 They Misled Viewers Into Thinking Bear Grylls Was Stranded By Himself
Although the show never explicitly states that Bear Grylls is left alone on his adventures, it is portrayed that way in many ways. Yet, the survival instructor has is never left alone. He always has a whole crew with him while filming. They help with everything from filming the series to providing expert advice.
14 The Crew Builds Things Then Dismantles Them For Grylls To Remake On Camera
According to people who have worked on the show, not everything that Bear Grylls does is genuine. Reports suggested that he did not build a raft himself on an episode of the show. Instead, members of the crew assembled it before taking it apart to give Grylls the chance to rebuild it himself on camera.
13 A Member Of The Crew Wore A Bear Suit For A Scene
Bear Grylls often showed viewers how they could deal with potential animal encounters with wildlife in Man vs. Wild. One episode was meant to show how to deal with a grizzly bear. When the team couldn’t find a tame bear that they could work with they took an unusual step. Allegedly, someone wore a bear suit to appear on camera.
12 Cast And Crew Manipulated Some Events To Make Them Look More Dangerous
Another accusation that came from people who had worked on the show is that some situations were made to look more dangerous than they really were. This was done to make the show more exciting and add some peril to proceedings. Of course, it also misled viewers into thinking Bear Grylls was putting himself in harm’s way.
11 Special Effects Were Sometimes Used To Enhance The Look Of Certain Events
Viewers expect shows that are meant to be documentaries to not lie. That also includes not using special effects usually utilized in entertainment such as movies and fictional TV shows. Yet, Man vs. Wild has faced accusations that they used special effects, such as adding coals and smoke to a volcano, to help it look more dramatic.
10 Stunts Are Carefully Set Up And Choreographed
Man vs. Wild regularly shows Bea Grylls taking part in stunts or putting himself in dangerous situations. While you might assume these were spur of the moment because of the way they were filmed, that is not necessarily true. Most of the stunts are planned in advance and heavily choreographed so that there is no real danger.
9 Bear Grylls Will Sleep In Hotels Instead Of The Wilderness As It May Seem
Due to the fact that Man vs. Wild is a survival show, many viewers would expect that Bear Grylls would live in the wilderness. After all, he builds shelters that are meant to provide the necessary protection to survive outside. But the truth is that the presenter does not stay in shelters. Instead, he seemingly sleeps in hotels with the rest of the crew.
8 Not All Locations Are Portrayed Accurately And Are Sometimes Completely Different Places
There have also been reports from former crew members that the show sometimes misled viewers about where filming took place. In one example, Bear Grylls claimed to be on an isolated and remote island. However, he was apparently in a Hawaiian resort. This is obviously something that he and Discovery did not want viewers to know.
7 Bear Grylls Claimed To Be Lassoing Wild Horses That Were Actually Tame
A further instance of Bear Grylls and the producers of Man vs. Wild misleading viewers came in an episode where the presenter had to tame wild horses. The only problem was that these horses were not actually wild. Instead, they were tame animals that had been brought in for the demonstrations.
6 Some Materials Were Brought Along Rather Than Found In The Environment
During episodes of Man vs. Wild, Bear Grylls often builds shelters or shows viewers how to construct useful items. While it looks as if he uses materials found in the wilderness this may not be the case. According to former crew members, these materials would be provided for him, giving Grylls everything he needs.
5 When Not Filming, Bear Grylls Stays With The Rest Of The Crew
Although Bear Grylls does build shelters and shows how it is possible to survive in the wild, he doesn’t actually spend much time there. During filming, he is in the wilderness as you would expect. However, when the cameras stop rolling he spends most of his time with the crew in hospitality and accommodation.
4 Safety Equipment Is Often Used In Episodes
One thing that the show never really advertises is the fact that Bear Grylls uses safety equipment for almost all of his stunts. That is something that wouldn’t be available to most people trapped in the wild as they would not have access to such equipment. It also means that Bear Grylls is not in as much danger as is sometimes implied.
3 Survival Experts Sometimes Accompany The Cast And Crew
While Bear Grylls does have some survival skills and experience, his knowledge is in no way exhaustive. Several experts often supervise filming and accompany the crew. They ensure advice is accurate and that the presenter is never in any danger. Yet, they are rarely shown on camera.
2 Bear Grylls Is Not Really A Survival Expert
Bear Grylls is, in many people’s eyes, not even a true survival expert. His training has been mostly been in things like sailing and climbing, rather than survival in the wilderness. The presenter also had a career in the UK’s special forces but even this focused more on combat. People like Ray Mears have more credentials when it comes to survival training.
1 Some Of The Techniques Shown In The Series Simply Don’t Work
One of the main features of Man vs. Wild is that Bear Grylls shows various techniques and tricks to survive. This can include ingenious ways of staying warm, buildings shelters, or getting water. But the problem is that many of these techniques simply do not work. In some cases, the techniques shown may even be dangerous.