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White Wine Question Time
Steve Backshall, Adventurer in Residence
Ep. 479
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Steve Backshall is a BAFTA winning nature presenter famous for bringing wildlife and adventure to life for audiences of all ages. His infectious enthusiasm and a fearless approach to exploration, has inspired millions to take an interest in the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it.
Born in 1973 in Bagshot, Surrey, he grew up exploring the world outside his front door, developing a fascination with ponds, woodlands, and local habitats which would eventually lead to a Masters degree in bioscience and some much bigger adventures.
His route into television wasn’t straightforward – in the late 90s – after a period backpacking around the world he bought a video camera and decided to film himself trekking the jungles of Columbia – he sold the tapes to the National Geographic Channel who made him their ‘Adventurer in Residence’
A move to the BBC followed with spells on the Really Wild Show and Springwatch – but in 2008 we got our first glimpse of Deadly 60 – the show which saw Steve swim with great white sharks, catch king cobra, black mamba and lancehead snakes, have a redback spider crawl across his hand and was get bitten on the leg by a caiman while searching for anaconda in an Argentine swamp. The show was a huge success – and at its peak was broadcast in 157 countries and now tours arenas as a live show.
Beyond television, Steve is an accomplished adventurer, author, and conservationist. He has led and taken part in numerous extreme expeditions, including pioneering kayak journeys and jungle crossings, often using these challenges to raise awareness of environmental issues, inspiring curiosity, courage, and care for the natural world.
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