BEAR GRYLLS is a living legend!!!!!!!! and to all the people who are saying all these nagative things about him i would like to see you scale everest or find your way accross mount kilauea or kimberly australia and even go out into the anourmass pacifc ocean!!!! i take my bloody hat off to this guy!

Spencer Masters, Todmorden, England

bear grills is a respected and well liked man .. some one who was taught the skills and why because he served the united kingdom army and he has (on his own freewill) to show you these tips and tricks so stop knocking him if you have a problem stop watching the show he is a light of inspration

adam domah, london, england

Dissapointed finding this out. I heard from a friend but didnt believe till I checked on it....
I know TV is TV but dont lead people on...
Show is entertaining but now its " is he REALLY sleeping here and really their"..
Wont be the same..
Shame on Bear...

chris pinto, South Jersey, USA

Who cares if parts are staged? It is a TV show and entertaining at that.

Grow up people and stop being so pedantic.

Malcolm Stevens, Epsom, UK

Is Bear Grylls a fake in surviving? Receiving help from others all the time?

Don, San Francisco,

I love the spokeswoman saying "The programme explicitly does not claim that presenter Bear Grylls’s experience is one of unaided solo survival." Love the idea that you can explicitly not say something.

Dave, Croydon, UK

To imply that this show is a "How To Survive" guide is misleading. In a real survival situation, your priorities are to take as few risks as possible, and to conserve as much energy as possible. Grylls does the exact opposite, which may make for exciting viewing, but would be foolhardy in reality.

Ian, Birmingham , UK

Bear is just doing this for fame. You see him kill animals, taste a bit, gag & spit it out! Thats not survival! Its obviously put on for the camera & is such a disgusting waste of resources! For real survival master watch RAY MEARS. Not only does he survive but does so with respect for environment

Corinne, Aberdeen, Scotland

I have watched every episode and have NEVER been given the impression that he is unaided. In fact, off the top of my head I can think of numerous references on multiple episodes that Bear has made about the fact that he DOES have assistance - even pointing out obstacles to his cameraman and others with him during the shoot.
It should be clear to any viewer with a pulse that the producers and Bear make no attempt to imply he is unaided - only create a show to teach and demonstrate some survival techniques in varied environments. Naysayers get a grip!

Matt, Eau Claire, WI

Newsflash! TV is not always real! I think that both shows have their pros and cons! I mean in Survivorman, how does he get a random chocolate bar or a soda can and plastic wrap from his pocket? I am not surprised that in Man vs. Wild he slept in a hotel a day or two. And to the people that commented on how Bear always has a full crew and Les is alone, that is false! In the case of an emergency they are there to protect him! Bring back Bear!

Julian, Miami, FL

Ha! the last episode I watched was when he did his survival bit in Alaska. *I* grew up there, *I* know how to survive in in the wilds there. "Bear Grylls" does not.
Regarding the station that put him on the air “The programme explicitly does not claim that presenter Bear Grylls’s experience is one of unaided solo survival.” -- No but it is very clearly implied. They'll do what it takes to get their ratings.

My dad always said "don't believe everything you read and see".

AA, Wasilla, AK

I like this guy but he is nasty! Bear will eat and attempt to get water from every disgusting, vile thing that he can find. He must have all of the harmless type parasites in him by now. He just ate a frog raw and whole then squeezed water out of elephant dung right into his mouth. He's sick! Les cleans and cooks his food and boils his water!

Reingold, hillsbourough, FL

Keith Boehme of Austin, Texas wrote "...less than 100 humans in our world have done..." regarding summiting Mt. Everest.

According to Wikipedia: "As of the end of the 2006 climbing season, there have been 3,050 ascents to the summit, by 2,062 individuals, and 203 people have died on the mountain."

Neither of the above statistics can be verified without more research, but the Wikipedia numbers are more believable.

Mac, Seattle, Washington

i think that this discredits bear on a level that few can even fathom. the ability to stay alive in the wild is not a matter of eating bugs and jumping on horses. it is an extreme mental game and sleeping in hotels and surfin the web are alot healthier than sleeping on a rock worrying about mountain lions and snakes. if you want to learn how to survive from a real survivor and not an actor check out my boy les stroud

nick thomas, stockton, ca

Bear is awesome, maybe the most awesomest person alive. I would marry the man if I could. But I can't marry him because I think he spent nights in hotels when he didn't.

Liz, Raleigh, North Carolina

Watch this program if you want to broaden your mind. So what if he is sleeping in a hotel when he brings you the survival skills to survive in the wild? Would you drink fluid from elephant dung for everyone's entertainment? That's survival skills and it doesn't matter if he hogs the hotel toilet the whole night after that.

I now know that elephant dung has fluid in it and I also know human urine has 95% pure water in it. Call me lame but I wouldn't have known all these facts. Well guess what? I found these facts out while I was having my bag of chips and a ice cold coke on my couch while he is out there eating zebra meat! So what if it's staged? Its the educational value that I am looking for, not the way how Steve Irwin died for his passion. Very stupid thing Steve did.

I wouldn discourage Bear from sleeping overnight out in the wild because he has a beautiful wife and 2 wonderful boys. As a father myself, I wouldn't do anything silly to endanger my life during filming.

Alan, Singapore, Singapore

Bear is my hero and always will be. I dont care if he is a fake, he is still heck of tight, and anyone who says otherwise should get beat up because i would bet a million dollars that you would not eat a tiger scorpion.

matt, Roseville, Ca

I am amazed at the # of people trying to discredit Grylls. So what if he slept in a hotel... don't make it look like Bear is qualified as a survivalist. Anyone with his hard (factual) credentials is required to have a significant understanding of surivival techniques. Watch and learn or change the channel!!

Mac, Columbia, MO

Bear's a total poser, and a good climber. Get him off a 'survival show'and put him on an MTV reality show, where he could use his smarmy charm and deceptive ways.

Rich , Seattle, USA, WA

Our Family loves the show!!! We Do Not Care if he actually
spends the entire time in the wilderness!!! He is giving advice
to us as to what to do in an emergency situation. We also
enjoy the history lessons of the areas involved. Our family
has found the shows very informative and entertaining. We
love Bear and want him back--everyone we talk to misses him
too!! Survivorman is OK but he doesn't have the entertaining
personality that Bear has-and how do we really know what
he's doing when the camera is off?? BRING BACK BEAR!!!

C. BInkley, Brown City, Michigan-USA

I agree that there are valid survival techniques to be learned from these shows, and Bear is an excellent candidate do display these skills. However, if what this article says is true, and some of the things he showed were either choreographed or staged then the techniques may be extremely difficult or even impossible for an average person to accomplish. The show was very entertaining, as I've never seen a person fetch a salmon out of a stream and then eat it while it is still alive, but it is unfortunate that it might not all be true.

Michael, Falcon Heights, MN

I just KNEW that Bear would be drinking lemonade and not his own urine!

Joel, Rockford,

Well, man vs wild is better than survivorman, cause he has to get out of the wild while survivorman just stays seven days, and also has gotten help if you had heard.ANd survivorman, they just pull him out after the seven days, which is easy cause in seven days, you don't have to move places while man vs wild shows how to get out

Adrian, Atlantic City, New Jersey

It's TELEVISION!! This show announces only that Bear will show you how to survive if you're ever stuck in that situation. Read the ending credits. They always roll who the expert was for that particular location. Honestly, if the viewers think that just because a camera is following someone that the events are REAL then wouldn't SURVIVOR be just as disheartening? Bring the show back, my kids and I love to watch.

Andrea, Fargo, ND,

bear is cool who cares if he slept in a hotel he still eat crazy thinks like frogs & ants hes rad

trent, London, England

i've been reading a lot of comments saying how bear grylls' show is so much better than survivorman. bear presents almost no survival tips, mostly beacuse its difficult to live off the land when you're not living off tthe land. im watching les stroud right this moment and in the last 10 minutes i've learned how to evade lions, start a fire using liquids from a first aid kit and boil water in a plastic bottle, yes a plastic bottle. ive seen many episodes of man v wild and never seen anything remotely that useful. les stroud survived 7 days in the kalahari desert ALONE in 140f temps drinking water out of tree roots. ever see bear do that? didnt think so, dont take tips from fakes. if you want to learn something useful, watch les on survivor man.

zach, augusta, ga

Journalists must consider us ordinary people to be very stupid and over delicate if they think that such realities could make the majority of us feel "let down" and disillusioned. All I'm looking for is some entertainment and maybe a bit of knowledge?

Bear's escapades and those of other similar presenters allow me a small opportunity to escape after contending with the far more profound realities of surviving with my family in this often very demanding and dangerous world in which we all have to live.

Come on you journo boys and girls, get your teeth into issues of greater substance if you dare! Will you Survive? Lets face it, in the end, none of us do !!!

Chris Hutchison, Bristol, England

I don't care where Bear slept. The thing is that his show is so much more interesting then survivorman, with Bear's obvious skills and great accent. Maybe Bear did sleep in a hotel sometimes, but we all know he has had to overcome more and tougher obstacles than survivorman. Bring Man Vs. Wild back.

Jon, Junction,

The point that no one seems to be bringing up is that Man vs. Wild, or Born Survivor, is not about whether or not Bear stayed in a hotel. The program shows legitimate survival techniques if you have nothing but a knife, a water bottle, or occasionally a flint. Bear showed a lot of interesting and entertaining survival techniques that are still valuable, no matter where he slept one night or another.

Alex Bush, Rohnert Park, California

the point is that les stroud does not pretend to do anything that he doesn't. here bear has deceived the audience and in effect betrayed the essence of the show, which is to depict him surviving in a harsh environment. survivorman does that, while apparently bear is just showing us techniques that could be used, while not actually needing to apply them, as one might think by watching the show

Jason Oppat, Beaverton, Oregon

Les Stroud, Bear Grylls...hmm...

Bear shows things like climbing up an embarrassingly tall tree to get avocados. Les says climbing the tree is a sure way to kill yourself (not literally of course).

Bear swims through a pool of water that will kill him if he drinks it. Submersing yourself is so much better? Les says (also not literally) "Nasty stagnant water? Umm, I MIGHT be able to find something better than dysentary."

Yes, these shows are not to be exactly followed for survival, and you won't have all the items they have, but when it comes down to it, and I have to follow one or the other to live, Les gets my vote every time.

Seth, Boyne City, MI

Read his book about his climb, at 23 yrs of age, up Everest. His detail on the crawl up from base camp over 3 months of ups & downs to the summit is an easy read about a task less than a 100 humans in our world have done.
So for me to have a chance for this same man to come into my home. Well I am one of those mindless fellows who felt some pains in the loss of Steve Irwin, and if you ever got witness Steve's show, you know that man had passion regardless of his
format or delivery. What I think you must admit, Bear = passion as well, and for me I have accepted what has become neccessary for him to deliver that spark!

Keith Boehme, Austin , Texas

A crew is always within several miles of Les Stroud for emergencies, as he has mentioned on his show. He does not try to hide this and it is totally understandable. They never "accidently" showed another person with him. They have only shown people there in assistance such as when a storm rolled in while he was on his raft at sea.

But the point is, TV is for entertainment and perhaps education (if you are optomistic). Is anyone surprised Bear Grylls got help from a camera crew that is always with him? Despite all your complaints about Grylls' show being unrealistic, you continue to watch the show. Leave it alone if you don't like it. Why do people always spend too much of their lonely lives complaining? Go find a friend or a hotdog and enjoy life.

Jake, fairfield, AK

Ok well at least Bear shows how to get out of the situation he is in instead of just saying "Oh ok lets just quit now because a week is up and i survived." Les Stroud always just gets up and goes to his crew when a week is up and is just picked up where as Bear goes through and finds a logical way out. And I think it is sort of hard to fake eating that random shit that he finds on the ground like larva off of a dead animal and snake heads and whatever. And another thing about Les, he always gets random shit off of whatever he comes in on and then gets a lot of help from whatever food is in the car or whatever. I also think its sorta hard to fake everything Bear does as far as stunts go so if your going to bring down Bear your going to have to bring down Les.

Jeff Adams, Boston, Mass.

Ok people...you go out there for 5 hrs and lets see you live!!

Jamel, juneau, ak

Who cares? Are people really that naive that they believe everything they see on TV? The bottom line is that the show is intended to educate people about how to survive in the wilderness. It's not a comprehensive education, but they do give some good basics.

Kevin, Portland, OR

This is for Tim who commented below about Survivorman being actually alone on his little week long adventures. HE IS NOT ALONE EITHER!! They show an entire team always close by him and once they accidently showed another person WITH him. So sorry!

Ben, St. Paul, MN

He's no Les Stroud that's for sure!

Erik, Henderson, USA

Keep Bear of the air!! The real Survivorman, Les Stroud is much better and more entertaining. He doen't fake any stunts for the camera. He's actually alone in the wilderness. So, again, down with Bear Grylls!

Tim, Troutdale, OR

i knew all along that that guy was a little puddy.
survivorman forever!

canady, pananma city beach, united states of america/florida

Please don't take Bear of the air! I love watching him even though he does some pretty disgusting things I am hooked to the show. There's no way a man would eat grub and dirnk his urine...and then stay in a hotel for the night. Even if these rumors are true, no one cares just put him on again!

amber, South Ot., NY

I love the show, and think Bear is great. I have now noticed that in my area,Discovery channel has put Survivorman in the time slot of Man vs Wild. Is Bear off the air? Most reality shows have things staged for the camera, so why pick on Bear/ He makes for great TV. I haven't seen anyone else squeeze elephant dung for water or eat raw zebra meat. Survivorman is okay, but he is boring compared to Bear. Bear please come out and talk to your fans! We love you, and support you.

cyndi, Chester, VA

stop trying to screw Bear up!
he rocks... even if he did those stuff (which I do not believe) he stills eating snakes and showin' us survival techniques
hey Tom, I heard Bob Marley had just left the hotel when Bear arrived.

Brazil is with you Bear, Keep it up!

Fa, Curitiba / PR, Brazil

Who cares if some of its a lie
people like to watch him and be entertained by him
just let him do what he wants

Travis G, Lansing, Kansas

i find the show interesting, even though i don't think it is exactly as the tv portrays it. he may have slept in a hotel at certain nights, but that doesn't diminish some of the difficult things he does like jumping into a bit of frozen ice water. that in itself requires strength, endurance, and skill. bear grylls is still an awesome guy.

Joseph Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines,

this in now way changes the fact that this is still one of the most entertaining "shows" on tv and Bear is an incredible entertainer. i will still watch this show and am hoping this in now way jeopardizes it's airings.

janet h, buena park, ca

I think Bear is Great, who cares if he spends the odd night in a hotel after all he has to look after his own safty. You never know that one day WE might need to use some of his survival skills so i would not knock it... I enjoy any programe that Bear is in, as he is gorgeous and deadicated to his lovely family , and raises money for charity so keep up the good work Bear.

Angie R, Coventry, England

I've read most comments. WOW. People really do like to see the worst... First; I go 3 days before needing a shave. 'just one of those people that doesn't grow much facial hair. To me, the man DID look rough after the night in the cave. In the show with the horse; People, it wasn't a wild horse! He said it had probebly run off from a ranch! Why would he have a crew build that raft? It was not very complicated. The show states that he has survival experts advise him, and in his Q&As he says that they coach him on whatever area he's going to. No one can know every plant etc. of every area of the world. Do our Army reserves not rate? Why then fault him if he wasn't full sas? Do I believe some things are not staged? No. But I do not believe a man of his fitness would need to stay in a hotel to complete a 3 or 4 day trek! I see alot of mention of Ray Mears. Come On! The man is a camper. Nothing is proven. Keep on doing what only a you can do, Bear. Oh yeah, Elvis was at the hotel with him!

Tom, Tampa, Fl

Why didn't Mark Weinert bring his story to the media when Man vs Wild was airing? It seems suspicious to me that this "story" comes just days before the DVD release of the first season of Man vs Wild. It is outrageous that someone would say anything negative about Bear Grylls. Then the worst thing that can be said is that he stayed in hotels a time or two here and there, he put together a raft that was disassembled, and the horse allegation is ridiculous to even mention. This is pure jealously and probably money related ~ not an issue of informing the public that they are being "misled". I hope that Mark Weinert feels good about being such a jerk and knows that none of Bears fans will be dissuaded by some money grubbing hate monger. Bear Grylls is a well educated, military trained professional climber and survivalist, who is devoted to his wife and children, spends countless hours in charitable activities, and serves God. Not many people can say the same. I LOVE U BEAR!

Ammie, Brooklyn, NY

I ENJOY WATCHING MAN VS WILD.THERE ARE TOO TOO MANY
NIGHTS WHEN THERE IS JUST BORING BORING BORING ON
TV. SO WATCHING A GUY MUCK ABOUT IN DIFFERENT
SETTINGS ON DIFFERENT CONTINENTS IS AN EXCITING
THING FOR ME.
OR MAYBE WE HAVE THE MAN ON THE MOON MYTH AGAIN.
IS BEAR REALLY AT THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS? I WOULD
SAY YES. THAT LOOKS PRETTY REAL. BUT I'M SURE THAT IT HAS COME UP THAT IT IS ALL STAGED IN SOME WAREHOUSE IN ENGLAND. I HOPE THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE ARE NOT LURKING IN THE WINGS. WHAT PEOPLE
DON'T REALIZE IS THAT TELEVISION IS A STAGED MEDIUM
ALL THE WAY FROM CHANGING ROOMS TO CROCADILE
HUNTER TO COOKING SHOWS. ITS JUST ENTERTAINMENT!
RELAX ENJOY. LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND A TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA SOUNDS GOOD TO ME ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.

CAROLE SCHNEIDER, WESTFIELD , USA

i never for a second beleived that the show was 100% authentic, yet i still enjoy it and prefer to watch it actually rather more than other shows, and in the end its called a "Show", anything with an executive producer isn't real, but yet this show is still fun to watch, watching somebody pull off stunts in the comfort of my own home so i cant really judge nor complain..
the show is good.

hesham, cairo, egypt

Bears a FAKE! man vs hotel should be taken off the air!

Kim, Eau Claire, WI

Next thing you know they will be telling us that Star Trek is not real! I mean seriously people, if you feel deceived, you truely are saps and I have some swamp land for sale!

Chances are if you see it on TV it's be doctored up or is completely fake!

fofoq, indy/indy, usa Indy

This is all a lie concocted by "Survivorman" Les Stroud. He's just jealous! Still love Bear despite these vicious rumors!

Molly, Dallas, Texas

what is real on tv? That's entertainment folks. That is why you turn on your tv to be entertained and that is what Bear did he entertain our other boring lives...BRING BACK BEAR! Think about Hollywood is full if fake women/people with implants (boobs, lips and weaves....tans, broke but pretending to hv money.

patricia, rohnert park, ca

Who cares if he sleeps in hotels. The point of the show is to help veiwers who might be put in these scenarios know how to keep themselves alive. The show completes its purpose every episode and as long as it shows you to build a shelter who cares if he actually sleeps in it. Grylls is not actually stranded and i would not expect him to stay the night on location when he doesnt have to. This little scandal does not make the show any less entertaining or helpful.

Liana, Hendersonville, NC

My family is so disappointed. Bear is always so drop-dead likeable and friendly on camera, I wish he'd been more up-front about filming. I would have watched and enjoyed it, I think, even knowing that he took a night off now and then. But if these allegations are true then it's spoiled it for us.

Fielding Russell, Savannah, Georgia

How long is Bear out there during filming? Three days? Are the shows 72 hours long? Don't you expect in some of that time there are things we don't see happening. I don't feel mislead at all. In fact, I am surprised at people who are "disappointed'' or "shocked"-what on earth do you think really happens in a TV show? There is obviously some editing and in our ever- increasing thirst for more entertainment from Bear, some staging, some setting up of things, production and a few down times during filming. GEEZ people. Get a clue. Bear is Man VS Wild, not "Man lives in Wild 24/7"
I believe that I read somewhere that he spends a few days in each location, before filming, learning and preparing for his excursion. That doesn't make anything less authentic either.
WE LOVE BEAR!

Beth, Findlay, USA/OH

You seem to be missing the point. He claims to be a survival expert (he claims an awful lot of things) but they set up most of the scenes, stayed in hotels, and had to draft in 'real' survival experts to show him how to do everything.

Also many of his 'achievements' are disputed by experts in those fields. His flight over Everest was not actually over Everest, and he can't verify the altitude because the instruments froze. His time in the SAS was actually 2 years in the territorial (part-time) unit. Everything this guy says is not the whole truth. This shows a complete lack of integrity (he's supposed to be a devout Christian).

You really notice the difference when you watch a genuine expert like Ray Mears. No stunts; no histrionics; no different camera angles, just sound advice.

Edward Grylls, to give him his real name is a complete fraud, a posh boy from Eton who's never had to do a real days work in his over-privileged life.

Jamie, Oxford,

when he was in the rain forest drank that water from the stream he got sick from both ends, that was real.cutting the fur away from that dead goat that was real real ... the wild horses I questions .....all I know for me I have learned more from Bear's Man Vs. Wild than tha boring surviorman show he puts me to sleep,,,BRING BACK BEAR. BRING BACK BEAR, BRING BACK BEAR,,,he is my Friday night date, seirously .. i will not watch that boring surviorman!

patricia, rohnert park, ca

Bear Grylls is the man, along with Les Stroud, to watch on TV about survival. Even after everything everyone's said about him, he's still the man.

T.N., Manassas Park, Virginia

Thats a lot of critism from a lot of people. All I have to say is this.. for all you "disapointed fans", how many of you have been members of the SAS, climbed everist, or done HALF the things bear has done? And you want to complain about his show? Why not grow a pair, match his accomplishments, do HIS tv show better than he does, then you will have a leg to stand on in this argument.

Glenn, San Diego, USA

Be honest up front. Don't make yourself out to be something you are not. As for me I will change the channel. It is up to the viewer and many just don't care and they deserve what they get. I will watch Suvivorman; at least he carries his own camera for taping; or so it seems.

Tom Powers, Cape May , usa/nj

Its just so stupid how so people will stop watching this program because he stayed in a hotel on one episode people have to remember that it’s a show on showing how you can survive in these environments’. I will never stop watching the show and it has made me change my hole perspective on nature and the wilderness, still think your great bear,

Sean Usher, sedgfield, UK

I feel as if I was made a fool of. Anyone that knows me could tell you I'm one of the biggest Man vs. Wild/Bear Grylls fans on planet earth. If from the beginning, he would of posted on the site or somewhere "please note, some parts in this show is staged, this is just a show to give you survival skills." That would of made a difference, but him lying to everyone, that's what has gotten under my skin.

I've still no proof that Bear is a complete fraud and liar, but if the truth comes out of the "investigation" I've heard about that Bear is not a liar, alot of people are going to owe him a big appology. However, if it comes back that he DID lie, it's a shame a soldier from the British Forces, the youngest British climber to ever climb everest and make it back alive 2 years after breaking his back, and crossed the frozen waters of the Arctic, it's a shame a man of a such bravery turned out to be such a coward.

Will, Roderfield, West Virginia

My husband and I laugh when he says "It's just me, my flint,my bottle of pee"....and your 6 man camera crew giving you sips of Hot Cocoa...He still gives us some great entertainment....where else in TV land will you see a man eat
an eye ball, carry a snake to eat later, jump into swamp muck...We love our Bear TV!

lisle, greeter, ct

Bear is a survival expert.i dont care if stayed in hotels.i dont care if some things were staged.if you're out alone you would need that knowledge anyway.get off his back,its not like it discredits this man.For God's sake he climbed evrest!,crossed the artic and trying to help EVERYONE!leave this man alone.PLEASE.!!

SHANE BAILEY, eden, nc,USA

Who cares really? It's a survival show. I'd stay in a hotel too after jumping into a crevice only to be saved by a back pack full of snow and some parachute strings. He's not Survivorman, but he still does some crazy things. And it's all information that can save a person's life. Plus he is pretty to look at. I'll keep watching. Do your thing Bear!

Amy, Leesburg, VA

I still like Bear and his show, but I am disappointed. If he stated, up front, that some of this was staged or some times they retired for the night to a hotel, I'd be fine with that. In contrast, he states in several episodes that the camera crew has "strict instructions not to interfere unless my life is in immediate danger". That leads one to believe that he was doing all of this on his own. I didn't actually think he was doing it ALL on his own, but I felt he had a lot of help BEFORE the trip, not during it.

Jeff, Royal Oak, MI, USA

Hey guys, come on! I mean the whole point is to watch, learn and remember. If we all get just 10% of what he is showing us we would be a lot better prepared the next time we wind up in a similar situation. This is a perfect example of how some people can't accept something that is only 99% real and 1% staged. I'll bet that most of these critics are the type that ought not to leave Central Park on their own. Anyway, I can't wait to see the next episode. Go Bear!

Bob Kren, Columbia, Columbia< NJ 07832

I like how Bear says "he was actually on an outlying part of the Hawaiian archipelago" during his deserted island episode. I live in Hawaii, and anyone from Hawaii can tell you exactly what parts of the main island of Oahu he is on during that show. You can even see the tourist's footprints on his "deserted beach." That show was heartbreaking for me. He is still pretty amazing though.

Emily, Honolulu, Hawaii

People, get off it. He states at the begining of the show he is not out there alone. Look at the credits after the show, it lists a "Survival Expert". The Discovery show is a how too. Did you viewers out there think the camera crew slept out in the wild the whole time also? Bear thank you for the information and I will keep watching.

kurt, canton, MI

Bear Grylls will always be able to do more than anybody, including these wimps that say "oh, we built that raft" or " we brought in those horses." The day they bring out documentable proof, something that shows that they are telling the truth, I will have to believe them. The reason he is so quiet about this is because he is filming, in the wild, for the third season. With no access to communication to give his side. Bear, we believe you and we know we're not being "conned" in any way. You do what you need to do, and the people you work with are jealous of your skills so much that they have to bring you down. Keep up the great work, we're all rooting for you.

Brady, Albuquerque, New Mexico

I like the program. I'm not in the least surprised re the 'allegations'. I thought it very likely that he had help with the raft given the logistics involved. The horses - I wasnt impressed with that scene as it was just too pat and a bit silly really. None of that detracts from the show overall however. It is educational entertainment. What to do , how to survive (provided it all goes to plan - which is of course unlikely). If you filmed a show like that warts and all - the final product would look amateurish or comedic. I'd be surprised if Bear caught the fish on the raft with a fish bone for example - may be he did more likely he had a bit of help - so what it was fun to watch. Bear doesn't for example refer continually or even occationally to the camera man/team that is present - that would spoil the effect - but obviously negates the impression that he is alone! More please - it's good television.

John Evans, Townsville, Australia

I am a huge fan of Bear, and to be honest with you the allegations were a small disapointment however you must understand that it is above all else a TV SHOW. Nothing you see and or hear on TV is "real" in sense of being completely unaltered or edited. Bear is not claiming that he himself is in life or death danger 100% of the time. There is not way to fake falling in artic water, and there is now way to fake desert heat. He himself has admitted that his crew does have seperate trailers for sleeping and that his crew does have access to food and water. This is designed as a "this is what you should do if this happened to you" kind of program and that's all it SHOULD be viewed as. Nobody watches NYPD and says "Jesus they just shot that old guy!" and immediately dials 911 for police assistance, I mean come on it's televison...it's entertainment 1st and education second. The man has done some amazing things is "real" life that attest to his undeniable courage and bravery. Cheers Bear!

Brian Becklund, Renton, Washington State, USA

I do not watch much TV, most shows I either find boring, dumb, or too pop-culture. Man vs. Wild however, stripped everything down to the core, to a basic simple idea, and it was fantastic.
Have a survival expert in the middle of nowhere, and film him getting out. Brilliant.

You get to learn all sorts of great things while being very much entertained by the whole, dare I say, charade. The key, as some seem to be overlooking, is that learning survival tips is at most only half of what the show claims to bring to its viewers. The whole point is to watch this man survive where most people probably could not.

Staying the night is a HUGE factor in surviving. Just thinking that he is actually lying in a bed in some climate controlled room is beyond detrimental to the concept of the show. Not to mention, If Bear couldn't do it, how do I know his tips, his shelters, will actually work?

Imagine a game show that fed its contestants the answers. Wouldn't you feel cheated?

Justin Danford, Sayville,

I and my son are massive fans of the show,and I have to admit we are a little dissapointed to hear some of the allegations against him.If true, we will still watch but it would be nice to hear an explanation from him as he seems to be a little quiet since the story unfolded.
He does seem very believeable,and if he DID stay in hotels when he was supposed to be out in the wilderness it does seem a little like we have all been conned.We have no problem with the fact he might have been staying there before and after his expeditions but during is not right. and as for the raft and horses ,well if thats true, well maybe we will switch off.
I have also heard that he was only in sas 21,which is basically the territorial or home guard version of the sas.SPEAK UP Bear, whats going on?

Steve, Bournemouth, UK

I think that viewers have every right to feel let down by this story. Not so much the story itself, which is bad enough, but the reaction (or the lack thereof) by Discovery, Channel 4 and Bear Grylls and his representatives afterwards.

So Channel 4 in its statement says: "The programme explicitly does not claim that presenter Bear Grylls' experience is one of unaided solo survival". What weasel words! The only thing I remember the programme explicitly stating was that he was entering these danger zones armed only with a water bottle and a knife. Of course we were aware of the crew because we the viewers are not stupid despite what Discovery and Channel 4 may think - that doesn't mean that they were helping him or fully sharing in his so called depriviations.

And shame on Bear for being unavailable for comment "as he was trekking in the Brecon Beacons with his four-year-old son". We believed in him because his record is so good - he owes his viewers an explanation NOW.

RO, Cardiff, Wales,

Im with the Discovery spokespeople. Everyone is stuck on the show being fake and that he doesnt stay out there all alone and everything, but its not about that! It's about him showing you how to survive when you need to! Bear is awesome and is full of knowledge, and anyone that is lucky enough to watch the show may use one day to save themselves!

Joe C, Columbus, Ohio

You can tell its all completely staged unless you"re clueless.I bet Eddy has been laughing his head off!!

GKirkwood, Cheltenham, Glos

I am not a fan of the show. Growing up in a family off avid backpackers i have many time shook my head and had to tell my children, "I dont care what he says you, dont do that its a sure fire way to end up dead or seriously injured".

Growing up in and area where there were wild mustangs it was very evident form the condition and temeprment of the horse that it was staged, many times my kids have pointed out in accuacys in the program.

Bear is a tuff guy, i will give him that, but most of the show is not believeable. I died laughing when he was in the Rockies and something was outside his shelter and out came the little Motorola radio and showing that the camera crew wasnt that far away.

Lets not forget, its TV and TV should be entertaining.

JR, Rocklin, USA

The guy is likeable and the show is interesting. For any of you who dispute the reality of it all, remember the episode where he jumps into ice water? ANYONE would have second thoughts about going through with THAT whether its being filmed or not.. It takes a lot of courage even if it is a demonstration. The most riveting episode was him trying to sleep under a canopy of pine branches in the Rocky Mts. with a Grizzly Bear prowling around close enough to hear its footsteps. There was absolutely NO MISTAKING the fear on his face and in his voice. This was not staged. The danger was REAL.They got the hell out of there immediately. Do any of his detractors want to experience that in pitch darkness? Or will they say it was a trained circus bear? The fact is that the guy is the "real deal". He is not Joe Rogan from Fear Factor who tells other people to eat disgusting things while he watches. Bear Grylls demonstrates every situation himself and in my view that gives him great credibility.

Cotton, Naperville, Illinois U.S.A.

Remember that what is on the telly is not real. The show looks fun. I'm glad I left England for Australia.

pomcat, Melbourne,

I heard a rumor that Bear Grylls learned almost everything he knows from a Boston Businessman named Matt Bown. He never credits Bown with any of teachings because of a heated rivalry that now exists between the two. I have seen Matt Bown in action and the kid is good. Matt Bown would not have allowed a viewing audience to be deceived in the name of entertainment, and Bear Grylls should be ashamed if this article holds true. Somebody needs to give Matt Bown a show.

Joe, Boston, MA, USA

I don't think it matters. He's still showing us the right foods to eat and not to eat, and giving us helpful survival tips along the way. I love the guy, and this accusation, true or not, does not change my love for him, or his show.

Greg Malone, Austin, Texas

I think we can all get a bit carried away with these allegations. Let us not forget that he reached the peak of Everest, and crossed the North Atlantic in a RIB.

Besides anyone that thinks in this day and age a person would be backed by a production company to go into the unknown wilderness and survive on their own is a little naive.

Tom Lewis, East Sussex,

Thank goodness somebody cleared up that name business - the sound of "Bear Grylls" [he does?] simply scrapes my nerves. I don't watch this show, but he's hardly the end-all be-all in survival techniques, only a heavily promoted one. However, it's clear that it's being marketed as what it actually ain't - that the man is literally and completely dependent on nothing but his skills to keep moving and breathing for the duration. Anything less than that should be disclosed upfront, as it were his 9-to-5 job to bite snakes and drink elephant poo juice but that afterwards he go nighty-night between satin sheets and not on a rock like Fred Flintstone. But that approach both lacks He-Man toughness and High Ratings. However that might be affected, I'm glad this little charade's been exposed - now even the most diehard camp follower has to confront the "unreality" of these reality-type programs. "Bear" that in mind! And Dizz, you're hysterical!

Sirhan, Washington DC, USA! USA!

if you watched the show it was obvious that certain parts of it were contrived to say the least. That said though it was a good piece of television and my 13 and 16 year old sons watched it and enjoyed it, they knew it was not possible for some of the situations in the programme to just happen but really enjoyed it anyway. He still if necessary could survive in those situations but not with film crew in tow. We need to realise that tv programmes are for entertianment and most probably not always 100% factual

kennard, devon,

He was in the SAS...enough said. He obviously knows what he's doing, and the show is entertaining, and informative. It was pretty obvious to me that parts of the show were contrived, but they shouldn't have been so deceptive. Oh well, I'm still guna watch it.

Jason B, Cinci, Ohio

this is merely a frivolous fabrication made by the producers of an inferior product to discredit our hero. LIES!!

aaron, potomac, md

The guy just broke the world motorized para gliding record by flying higher than the Himalayas for petes sake. He was also the youngest Briton to climb Everest not long after a serious back injury. Id say that gave him some survival credentials none here could beat even before you quibble about his being ex territorial SAS or otherwise. (dont the TA go thru the same selection process?). He also seems like a thoroughly decent human being. I am appalled at the cheap media shots being made at him. Especially British media. Lay off. You must be bird brains to not realise much of the filming is staged. How else would you have cameramen filming him !!!? The stuff he does do however is real, informative, exciting and entertaining. More power to you Bear !

Vic, Manchester,

I saw a few episodes. It was pretty obvious that much of the incidents were set up (Bear stayed clean and shaven while stranded on a desert island!). Also while supposedly all alone at sea on a handmade raft he was miraculously spotted by ship some distance away and rescued. The tiger shark encounter could not have been 'faked' and was pretty hair raising stuff. However anyone that follows Bears adventures will know he has recently flown over Everest in a motorised paraglider, this can't be faked!!

The production company should have made it clear that Bear was demonstrating survival techniques, rather than using them to survive. It was it was pretty clear that many of the scenarios were engineered.

Deb, Keighley, West Yorkshire

Here's a solution for everyone - a disclaimer at the start that says: "Born Survivor is an entertainment show and any resemblance to real situations of peril or factual truth is purely coincidental."

Dan, Hampton, UK

survivor man's better anyways

Joe, Portland, Oregon

Maybe some of the residents of Tewksbury should follow his teachings. Not sure how much animal dung there is there at the moment, but as the supermarket says... any little helps.... :). Maybe he'll even cut short his holiday and travel (albeit hoping and skipping across rocks) from Breacon to the scene of the disaster to lend his assistance...

stuart Robb, Hitchin, Herts

So what? He is a proven born survivor, in the mass media jungle at least. Had he been a politician, everybody would praise his statesmanship. Thinking of it, he should become a politician and fight the war on terror.

Ronnie, Paris, FRANCE

The "survival king"? I think not! Ray Mears is the survival king. If you want sillyness watch Bear Grylls, if you want instructional survival techniques watch Ray Mears.
A more salient point is that which ever program you prefer it is still television and what ever survival situation you find yourself in you are not really likely to have a film and production crew with you. Actually, that is one of the reasons I prefer Ray Mears; he is honest about having the production and film crew with him (he often gives them food he's cooked to taste - not always a pleasure!) and that they go off to a hotel and leave him behind! Next morning he does look like he's slept in the great outdoors not a hotel room!
I would sooner trust Ray Mears' survival knowledge than Bear Grylls'.

Lily, Liverpool,

i havent watched any of the show so i cant comment. lets not forget the series about holiday nightmares. staying in hotels can be hard too.

Angus, London,

The truth is, this 'Bear' character has a bit of a reputation for exaggerating his achievements. His ascent of Everest was actually guided; overweight Americans with no climbing experience are guided up Everest everyday, its no big deal anymore.

He's ex-SAS? Actually he spent two years in the Territorial SAS, and was never in the regular British army at all. He claims to be an expert in about half-a-dozen fields from his time in the SAS, but given he spent so little time with them this is highly doubtful.

The fact is, he is just a posh old Etonion who is cashing in on the Bushcraft/Survival boom after the Ray Mears programs. The program was VERY IRRESPONSIBLE, if you attempted half the things in the program in a real survival situation, you end up breaking something, which is as good as a death sentence.

Oh, by the way, his real name is Edward, more fitting for the posh public school boy that he is.

Jamie, Oxford, Britain

So Grylls couldn't be contacted for comment because he was trekking in Brecon Beacons?

Did you try looking through is living room window? I bet he's sitting there watching Big Brother and eating Take-aways.

Otto, London,

Star Gate SG1 and Battle Star Galactica AREN'T REAL?! Oh my God.......

John D, San Diego, California

To stay in clandestine comfort whilst wanting to give the impression of 'roughing it' is pure theatre. I dont have a problem with anybody taking lifes easy options if offerred,
but to do so whilst selling himself as some sort of
survival 'tough guy' is a sham. He has been exposed and rightly so.
He shouldn't be taken seriously again.

Tony L., Borgholzhausen, Germany

Clearly working on the principal 'only a fool will be uncomfortable'

Wake up everybody, it's television it doesn't have to be real.

Antony Rigby, Franham,

eh man vs wild is still a good show. i do think his jumping into random water supposedly w/o knowing the depth is a bad example

anon, a non,

so are supposed to think that he's less of a man, and more of a cub than a bear? he's twice the man than most of us.

Marc, UWS,

First and foremost you have to realize this a television show it not a documentary which mean it's entertainment first and instructional second. You also have to take into account that the network has invested money into this show and they aren't going to let the host of the show die of hypothermia or of heat stroke when they can intervene by way of having him stay in a hotel when the nights get to dangerous. So what one takes away from this that if bear and his crew spend a night or two in a hotel it has to more to do with securing their investment than have the star of the show sleep in comfort.

Andy, Orlando, Florida

My dad and I started watching Man Vs Wild a little while ago, and we just laughed and laughed. Especially when he ate the goat eyeball and all the juices squirted out.
Honestly now, the miraculous conveniences he "finds" such as "recently dead goats" or a dear that has a conveniently thick fur that he can tote around for warmth are staged.
But I am a little dissappointed that he stays in hotels. We always joked about how while he was digging a snow cave, his camera crew was setting up a nice little tent a little ways away. So that's a bummer.
And then last week I saw Survivorman for the first time. It was just insane.
But really, it's not like you guys are giving accounts of when you last went out and climbed down a waterfall or even went camping for that matter. So don't be hatin'! I still love the show.

Melanie, Chicago,

His true name is "Edward" but he calls himself "Bear" presumably in order to seem more butch.

simon, Dawlish,

So what he stayed in a hotel sometimes, what is more important is that god forbid if any of you were stuck in a survival situation, he has taught you the basic survival tips. So what he may have had some help making the rafts, but in the deserted island episode, he was out on that raft scared to death because a shark started stalking him. I don't blame him for staying in a hotel after that. At least I can say that after watching the show, I know that in case a disaster happens, he has taught me what to do and to never give up hope.

Alexandra, Callicoon Center, USA

as if the multiple cameras waiting for him when he lands via parachute in a tree, or the crane shots or anything else dont give it away. even cnn news is made up, why not this??

s. andrade, bristol, RI

Who cares if he stayed in a hotel. The show is awesome and still does what it is supposed to do. Show you how to surive if you got lost or stranded in different parts of the world. I would be able to survive just from watching his show. Thanks Grylls!

Caroline, montgomery, Alabama

Well the guy did eat those nasty grubs and he seemed to be in real pain with stomach cramps and did seem to also be in much discomfort during an overnight thunder storm and i bet he was bitten a time or two by mosqitos so I guess I still admire him but boy am I disappointed that the show was produced in such a way that lead the public to believe that he "Survived" a week at a time with limited tools.

Marque Glisson, Pacifica, Ca. USA

Would have anyone watched Bear sleeping for 5 or six hours if they had shown it? This isn't Big Brother.

Dan, London, England

Everyone of your contributers has missed the real point at issue; that is that Ch 4 regularly and deliberately misleads viewers. It's a shame that there's not a law agin deliberate misrepresentation on the media. Whilst Bear Grylls may be deficient in elements of integrity, the principle that deliberate lying to the public is OK, needs some form of redress, especially on more serious matters.

The global warming debate involving Ch 4 (An Inconvenient Truth) exhibited a far more heinous crime. Their documentary stated that volcanic activity produced many more times the amount of CO2, than anthropogenic production, implying that man's restraints on carbon emission were a waste of time. The converse is true as may be checked out by searching the scientific literature.

Deliberate lying through the media has become de rigueur in the UK and the sooner the Government brings in legislation to make such acts illegal, the sooner our society becomes purged of the likes of Ch 4.

Maxadolf, Epsom, UK

I've often wondered why he's always so well shaved every morning!

LC, Seattle, Wa

You would have to be pretty stupid NOT to think that at least some of content was staged.!!!!! I don't remember any claims saying that it was 100% real.

That said some of the stuff was real......why did he kill a live fish with his teeth?.....most people would have just smacked the fish on the head with a rock?

Iain Wishart, Kendal, Cumbria

Just how much genuine discomfort is Bear supposed to endure for the sake of an surival education programme ? Personally i couldn't care less . Having seen him deliberately jump in quicksand to show how to escape , eat raw salmon and snakes , swim arctic waters , descend steep waterfalls , jump from planes , rafting through icy rivers (I could go on ) , all in little more than shorts and a tea-shirt , I certainly don't feel that I've been conned . He could spend every night in a 5 star and he would still make Ray Mears look like a boy scout .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

I'm a huge fan of both Bear Grylls and Les Stroud and admire both men. To hear that Bear is staying in hotels during the filming of what is presented as a continuous period of demonstrating how to survive with what is at hand, is disappointing to me, although not to the point where I won't continue to watch his program. While I believe Bear has demonstrated valuable skills in his program, it has always seemed crystal clear to me, that 1. Having a camera crew nearby at all times specifically means that Bear's survival options are completely different than Les' solo experience, and 2. Bear takes many risks during his treks that would be unconscionable/suicidal for someone legitimately in a survival situation. It's a nice fantasy, but we shouldn't expect either man to take unreasonable risks for entertainment value. I know Les carries a satellite telephone with him to call for help if he had to abort, but to my mind, Les is clearly taking the greater risk and more usefully educates us.

Gary Goldberg, Bowie, Maryland

Bear, I love your show. You have an adorable family; I am sure they appreciate knowing that you will come home to them after filming each episode. You are still my hero for all you have accomplished in your life and for being a decent human being.

Give this man a break, people. It is just a show.

Shelli Shepherd, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Once again TV has proved dishonest.
What a sad world we live in where we cannot believe anything we see,hear or read.
No its not OK for a show to blatently lie to its audience.

James Currie, London,

Les Stroud is real. He has a satellite phone for use in emergencies. Other than that he's all by himself out there.

Angela, Dallas, , TX

Les Stroud is The Truth.

S U R V I V O R M A N

Ben Franklin, Philadelphia, Pa

This is a sad day for all man vs wild fans. I defended him against survivor man and claimed that his camera crew didn't help him. Now i have to eat crow because I apparently backed the wrong poney. While I appreciate the fact that he is teaching me how to survive, it's still misleading, and I for one am disappointed in Bear. I won't be watching another episode.

Jonathon, Arlington, Texas

If you don't like the show, change the channal.
I think it is great.

Tom, Bakersfield,

If you think this is real, never ever get caught in a disaster.

You will die.

Google alpha rubicon, thats how you survive a disaster, with planning and thought, not a knife, and fishing line and a whole lot of courage.

Dominic, Manchester, UK

I have also noted that Mr. Grylls takes many chances - leaping from rock to rock in rough terrain, for example. In a real survival situation, extreme care is called for in all things. A mis-step that results in a broken ankle is very likely to be fatal if one's life depends on walking out of the wilderness. I do not doubt that Mr. Grylls is tough and resourceful, but he is not very credible as a survival expert.

Jim Rains, New Milford, CT / USA

Fair play the guy climbed Everest but he was in the TA SAS, which is a bit different from the Regular SAS and if his back was so badly busted up how come he can cut around doing all this crocodile dundee stuff, the expression "Walter Mitty "springs to mind or "WEEKEND WARRIOR"
No doubt he was on the balcony at Princess Gate as well!!!
I spent more time in the slip stream than he served in the SAS!!!

lee , northants,

The article now answers the question of "How does he keep such an excellent crease in his slacks after sliding down the side of a mountain?"

DCottrill, Massillon, USA/OH

Everyone is so obsessed with reality TV that they have forgotten that TV is all about being entertained by fiction etc. So what if he stayed in a few hotels it made good TV!

Dave, UK,

I see Gardeners World last week made the unprecedented move of turning the camera on (one of) the people who actually do the work at Berryfields. Everyone rushes to cover their tail!!

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

He bit the head off a snake and ate it. He caught a living snake, put its tail in his mouth, bit the head off, and swallowed. He urinated on a tshirt then wore it around his face for a solid day in the desert. He found a dead zebra in Africa, cut chunks off of it with a knife and ate it raw. Later that day he was dehydrated so he squeezed water out of elephant dung and drank it. HE DRANK ELEPHANT DUNG WATER. He cooked and ate a turtle. He's climbed up and down water falls, swam in freezing waters, pulled himself out of quicksand (twice), slept in a tree house in the everglades (I live close to the everglades, I don't think theres any motels where he was at), dived into back breaking waves to retrieve an empty water bottle, and drank his own urine. Who cares if he spends the night in a hotel after that? Seriously, if you're going to be upset with the program because he isn't actually spending subzero nights in snow caves that he digs you're missing the point. ELEPHANT DUNG WATER!

Tyler, naples, fl, USA

This show teaches you basic survival tips. Bear has demonstrated some amazing acts with entertainment value. I don't care what the allegations are because he's passionate about life, has a genuine appreciation for the outdoors, and still manages to inspire people by eating insects, snakes, and zebra meat. His message is, "Never give up hope" I have the utmost respect for him and he's not hurting anybody....It's funny how some people like to put others under the microscope. Get a life! I'd like to see you eat cow dung and jump in a sub zero lake and still manage to put a smile on your face!

Lily, San Francisco, California

Watching this show for wilderness survival education is like watching the Dukes of Hazard to learn defensive driving.

Beware...

laylofan, new york,

I did wonder about the degree of fakery and, as has been noted, his fresh appearance after nights sleeping in the rough.

But he really did, did he not, descend a 100 foot waterfall on creepers he'd cut from a tree? And plunge into an ice covered pool or paddle a leaky sinking boat across an ice covered lake?

His website reveals a relentless self-promoter. He's not a fake - just a bit of a fibber. Not I would have thought team-player qualities

Bob T, London, UK

For those of you who may actually find yourself in a survival setting, don't try the things you see on this show.

Pounding repeatedly on a skimpy titamium scuba knife with a rock or club is not going to work to build an entire ocean-going raft. 9 times out of 10 the blade will bend, break,or chip beyond repair after just a few hits. You need a special high-carbon, extra thick blade to actually do this.

Watch the Australia episode carefully. When he's building his sleeping platform as it starts to rain
there's a quick shot of him using a big machete to chop with.

Just a knife, water bottle, & flint? I think not...

winston, toronto,

bear is an inspirational man who clearly likes testing himself to the limits. some of the skills he displayed were very impressive and whether or not they were staged is irrelevant as the objective - to teach - remains. If, on the other hand I felt i was watching a show about FOLLOWING someone on their 'epic' or 'exploratory' journey I would be more disappointed.

Rajiv, Wells, Somerset,

IT IS WHAT IT IS, A TV SHOW!!!!!

NETTE, Chicago,

While it does stink that he mislead viewers, this pales in comparison to many many egregious breaches of common sense . I am no survivor guru but i'm pretty sure if I'm ever lost and alone in the wilderness I will not be climbing any 100 foot trees or repelling down any waterfalls. Bear is a natural performer and quite an athletic marvel but what do those stunts do to help the average person survive? Brink back the first survivor man guy. he was much better.

f, Pinckney, Mi

I suspected this was staged because when was the last time you saw an Englishman survive without his daily tea and cumpets. But it's still entertaining!

Stuart, Atlanta, USA

Bear has proven that he can survive the most extreme conditions by climbing to the summit of Mt. Everest. He is an impressive outdoorsman. The show lists the survival experts in the closing credits of each episode. I always assumed that this person, along with the camera crew, provided assistance when needed. I hope this article won't discredit Bear's amazing accomplishments and fascinating program.

Sarah, Richmond, VA, USA

He's a fake.

Boo Boo Denton, Dallas, Texas

Give me a break, 'Surivorman' isn't any more "real" than 'Man vs. Wild', both shows are instructional programs...being alone with two cameras just means crappy production values and bad camera angles. If you think that Les Stroud is really out there all by himself without any way of signaling for help, you are in for a shock. Both shows are entertaining and instructional, but Bear Grylls is a better host.

Trey Ducario, Los Angeles,

I don't watch his show because I think he is surviving with only a flint, knife and one canister of water. I watch his show because it is very informative and entertaining, so I am not at all disappointed that he is not suffering in the wild the whole time that he is filming the show. As long as the techniques and information in his show is accurate for a person's survival under the conditions that he is in, then it really doesn't matter.

JC, Aliso Viejo, CA

Regardless of whether the fact that he did these things or not. This fine Ex-SAS soldier has over achieved the title of an "Overman" for those who watch too much television and spend all day criticizing on those people who are better then them...Overman is a perfect example of the "Will to Power". The Will to power is the fundamental component of human nature. Everything we do is an expression of the will to power. The will to power is a psychological analysis of all human action and is accentuated by self-overcoming and self-enhancement. Contrasted with living for procreation, pleasure, or happiness, the will to power is the summary of all man's struggle against his surrounding environment as well as his reason for living in it. So please people get a life and leave Bear ALONE! He is an amazing person and if you guys dislike him so much THEN STOP WATCHING HIS SHOW!!! Bear Keep up the good work and do not listen to these feeble people yapping away on the internet.
Thus spoke De La Paz

Angel, Anaheim, USA, CA

I really liked watching the show and found that much of the allure was that he WAS actually doing what was shown. I will still watch the show because a lot of the techniques shown are valuable, but it will not be the same.

CS, Eugene, USA, OR

I hardly feel deceived by this news - some aspects of the show simply had to be choreographed because it's a SHOW. I'm also somewhat relieved that the wild horses scene was choreographed as that's probably the one time I found Bear to be a bit silly. The only other time that came close to being silly was his choice to use a ridiculous Tom Hanks-inspired raft, but hey - it made for great TV.

Les Stroud's problem is that he and his show are completely dull. His technique and tips are quite different to Bear's, and quite posssibly more useful to the average guy, but he comes off as a geeky boyscout. I can understand that his fans are likely upset that Bear's show has eclipsed Les's show on the Discovery Channel here in the US. It's not suprising that fans of his show and other survival-themed shows are overjoyed at these claims of fraudulence, but in the end their shows are all still mostly dull and Bear's is full of useful advice AND great entertainment.

Rich, Boston, USA

Why not stay in a hotel if they are offering...I trust that the guy can keep himself alive if he has too. He's a lot tougher than anyone watching the show.

Ann, northville,

The show is awesome. Regardless if he stays in a hotel or doesn't actually drink his own pee, the man kills animals with his bare hands and does ridiculous sky dives. I hope the show isn't cancelled because of allegations like this that no one really cares about.

Bear is for sure coming after the person making the allegations and there is no escaping him, not even in the remotest parts of the world. He will hunt you down.

Brian , San Diego, CA

I wish people would stop comparing Bear to Mr Mears. Ray Mears is the undisputed champion of survival techniques whereas Bear just likes to have a runaround in the wilderness.

It's a bit like comparing John Rambo with weird useless brother of Rambo.

Stuart, London,

As it happens I was in Nepal during his attempt at the parascending record. 5 miles up the valley towards Everest when he did the record attempt. From where I was standing it didn't look like he was flying anywhere near the summit to me.

Andz, Winchester,

Hardly shocking news. Anyone who watched his show could see that it possessed levels of realism not seen since Schwarzenegger's 'Predator'.

If you are looking for realism then tune into Ray Mears. But if you want to see 'Survival for the Sun reader' then I cannot recommend Bear highly enough. The show is certainly entertaining as it is loaded with unintentional comedy gold - the scene with him trying to get out out of the ice pool is up there with David Brent!

Stuart Johnston, London,

I watched the show for the first time yesterday. Some of my family members love the show. As I was watching I brought up the fact he has a production team with him. And I was sure that he did not live those few days struggling. But if you block the fact that he stays in a hotel and possibly eats chicken at the end of the day and just focus on the facts he is trying to teach people if they are ever in such a situation it is a good show. We live next to the everglades and that show taught my son some useful things if he ever got stuck out there. He does go fishing alot in the glades. I think the only mistake they have made is to not make it clear to people that it is more of a teaching show. I would still watch.

liz, CORAL SPRINGS, fl

Maybe, but les stroud is a pussy.

corey, corey corey, corey corey

The "Bear Defenders" and apologists are missing the point. The show is in fact portrayed as an instructional documentary.
Its irresponsible and dangerous to naive viewers to suggest that "if you do this, you can survive for days in a remote area." People will get hurt or die if they do most of the crazy things seen on the show.
If its only for illusion and entertainment they should run a disclaimer at the opening of the show. The producers swiped the original idea from a Canadian named Les Stroud and his show "Survivorman" where he is in fact dropped alone with 2 cameras into nowhere and he does have to get home on his own (no crew, no motels, no pancakes for breakfast).
Grylls has been criticized relentlessly by American viewers on his Discovery Channel website, but the defenders just say its Americans whining again.

Thanks to you Brits for exposing this "overstuffed toy bear". Watch the Canadian for real survival tips.

captain22, ny,ny, usa

Whatever anyone says, Bear Grylls has achieved amazing feats and yes, Born Survivor is a guide of how to survive in the wild. So what if he stayed a few nights in a hotel? It's simply a 'how to' programme. Surely him eating all manner of disgusting things is worth praise enough??!

Cath, Glasgow,

He is no Ray Mears.

Priyen, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

He conveniently overlooks to mention that we was in the TA SAS

paddy, Belfast,

I dont think there is not much surprising about this. The fact is that to a new viewer the show is so incredible that eventually you have to come to the conclusion its not all live and some parts are made more exciting by his choice to do things which may not be neccesary in all situations. The hotel thing is a little disappointing but i dont doubt for a minute that he could do those things if he had to. The people who hate this show must have really clinged on to the idea that its all happening exactly how the show portrays. I think intelligent people can discern what must happen for the show to work, and what is real. These claims don't effect my view of what is real on the show much at all. The show wouldn't even happen without people there with cameras so he's never 'technically' alone either but again HOW WOULD THE SHOW BE POSSIBLE?

Jonm, ann arbor, MI

noooo, wrong, scurilous remarks

he drank water than he had squeezed from a piece of dung

and his shoe caught on fire.... on fire, cgi effects i suppose

he killed a rabbit with a stick

why do you ALL have to be haters

Bryan the Pirate, San Fran, USA, USA!

How far into the arctic circle did his "Arctic" trip really go? Did his recent flight over Everest really get to the height he claims? Etc, Etc

Bill, London,

“If you really believe everything happens the way it is shown on TV, you are being a little bit naive,”

It is entertainment. In this case very interesting entertainment. The only way it could be factually accurate would be if he were filmed being tossed out of a plane in his underpants and then, two weeks later, being filmed emerging from the bush. That would make for an exciting programme, wouldn't it?

On his own, he could survive and extract himself from a potentially life threatening situation in no time, but with a film crew in tow? 'Erm, sorry Mr. Gryllis, we didn't quite get that scree surfing bit down the mountain, the camera angles were all wrong. Could you climb up there and do it again, please?'

Of course he is going to spend the odd night in a hotel with his film production crew.

His 'stick compass' trick was really interesting. Wish I had known that all those years ago when I found myself stranded in the middle of bandit country wondering which way to run.

Tomas, Luanda, Angola

This was pretty obvious to anybody who has done survival training. Peoples' faces look haggard and grey after nights of sleeping rough, and his face didn't. The programme gave the impression that he had spent the night sleeping on the floor of a cave, for example, but you could see just by looking into his face that he had had a comfortable night in a bed with sheets.

Dr. Keith Anderson, Durham, England

As a fan myself I am not in the least dismayed by these 'revelations'. The programmes were entertaining and educational and probably as good as they could be within the constraints of popular television. There were lots of clues in the series that scenes were staged, and some of the ideas - like catching and riding a wild horse - were absurd, but these did not detract from the value of the overall package.
I believe that there is a demand for a series of programmes focussing on real survival techniques - a kind of televisual trainig course - such as shelter building, concealment and animal trapping - but I believe that Bear Grylls is not interested in making such a series. Which is a pity.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

They will be telling us next that Star Gate SG1 and Battle Star Galactica are not real!

Dizz, Bognor Regis, England