Bear's Wild Weekends With... announced

1 December 2011

In a new television series adventurer Bear Grylls takes Miranda Hart and Jonathan Ross on their own amazing and intense ‘wild weekend' expeditions to some of world's most stunning natural environments in two exhilarating new programmes for Channel 4.

In Bear's Wild Weekend With Miranda, due to be shown on Channel 4 on Boxing Day, comedy writer and actress Miranda Hart will be confronting her greatest fears while exploring the spectacular Swiss Alps.

In the Swiss Alps, Miranda Hart will be traversing a glacier, crossing crevasses roped to Bear, tackling deep snow in snow shoes and completing a huge boulder scramble. She also faces her greatest fears when she flies in a helicopter and abseils down a waterfall.

"I will be taking Miranda to one of the highest and wildest parts of the Alps and throwing her in at the deep end amongst the glaciers and crevasses," said Bear Grylls. "I know she'll be nervous in the beginning, but I hope to be able to build her confidence and that she will come to trust me through the journey. I really admire her courage to face so many fears head on."

When asked her thoughts about the upcoming adventure Miranda Hart said: "I hope after this experience I'll be braver and realise that our silly fears in life are just irrational and I can push to do more, because as inspired by Bear, life's for the living."

Meanwhile Bear's Wild Weekend With Jonathan Ross (tx tbc) will see presenter and chatshow host Jonathan Ross discover his inner Tarzan in the magnificent rainforests of the volcanic island of La Palma in the Canaries.

Jonathan Ross is travelling to Europe's only rainforest, on the volcanic island of La Palma, one of the least-known of the Canaries. His two-day adventure with Bear will include an exhausting trek through dense and steep jungle, abseiling from a helicopter, SAS-style, swinging through the trees like Tarzan, sleeping in a hammock and walking across an active volcano.

"This is a rare chance for viewers to see two of our best-loved stars stripped bare and as they really are - no fluff, no make-up, just the wild, them and me on a great adventure together," said Bear Grylls.

Bear thinks viewers will see another side to Jonathan Ross too:

"The wild is always revealing when you take someone out of their comfort zone, " said Bear Grylls. "Watching Jonathan as he really is - no pink suits or studio backdrop is going to be raw and compelling."

Bear Grylls added: "Throw in rainforest and volcanoes and the whole cocktail is set for a very fun, but honest insight into the real Jonathan Ross. My job is to open his eyes to the wild, keep him safe and share what will hopefully prove the ultimate Boys' Own adventure!"

Jonathan Ross said: "I am very excited that I have been asked to take Bear away and give him a proper work out! If he can survive a weekend away with me he can survive anything ... And vice versa, I imagine!"

Bear Grylls, best selling author of Mud, Sweat and Tears, record breaking adventurer, Chief Scout and well-known television host - will be challenging novices Miranda and Jonathan to go far beyond their comfort zones with a series of exhilarating adventures during intense two-day expeditions.

The series will also air on Discovery Channel.