The Island with Bear Grylls to be commissioned for second series

Channel 4 has commissioned a second series of the experiment The Island with Bear Grylls.

The audience has continued to rise throughout the first series to a current consolidated average of 3.1 million viewers, 11% viewing share. Additionally the show has consistently won the slot for 16-34 viewers, with an average share of 20% of the young audience.

The series explores the notion that the role of modern man has changed dramatically in a few generations, and questions if a man’s traditional hunter-gatherer skills are now redundant. It set out to see if a cross section of thirteen British men had the practical skills of their forefathers and could still dig deep and survive.

It was ensured that the uninhabited island had enough water, animals and vegetation on it to keep the men alive as long as they had the ingenuity to find it, catch it and kill it. Stranded, the men had to use their practical skills to survive for 28 days in 30 degree heat battling exhaustion, dehydration and crippling hunger– all whilst being filmed by the embedded crew who were facing the same extreme challenge.

Bear Grylls said; “Series one proved that it was one of the toughest survival shows on television. The Island has been a totally immersive experience for these men- What you see is what they went through… We’ve shared in their courage, their pain, their triumphs and their failures. At the end of it, I’ve developed an incredible respect for these men and how they endured the experiment set before them. I’m so excited to take the next group on this adventure in series 2, and see if they too have the will to go through the hardship and fight for their very survival.”

Liam Humphreys, Head of Factual Entertainment added: “It’s a brilliant concept which has exceeded our expectations and we are delighted to be bringing back Bear’s experiment in an even bigger way. I can’t wait for it to return and watch another group face the ultimate survival challenge.”

Kelly Webb-Lamb, Managing Director, Shine TV says 'We are absolutely delighted to be bringing another series of The Island With Bear Grylls to Channel 4. We are all immensely proud of the innovation behind this series and cannot wait to make it bigger and better for series two.'

It has yet to be decided on who the new grouping might be.  Further editorial details yet to be announced.

ENDS.

Production Information:

Executive Producers: Ben Mitchell (Shine TV), Tim Whitwell (Shine TV), BGV Exec Producers Bear Grylls, Delbert Shoopman

Production Company: Shine TV/Bear Grylls Ventures Co-Production

Commissioning Editor: Factual Entertainment: Liam Humphreys

About Shine TV:

Shine TV is one of the UK's most successful producers of popular factual television creating series that entertain, surprise  and challenge with humour and warmth. Forthcoming and  returning titles include MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and Vertigo Road Trip for BBC One, MasterChef: The Professionals and Idris Elba: King of Speed for BBC Two, The Crimes That Fooled Britain and Britain's Best Bakery for ITV, Ashley Banjo’s Big Town Dance for Sky One and Eddie Stobart:Trucks, Trains and Planes for Channel 5. Founded in 2001, Shine TV is part of the Shine Group.

About BGV:

Bear Grylls Ventures (BGV) led by CEO Delbert Shoopman & CJ Cardenas is a management and production company based out of Los Angeles. BGV manages all television, film, books, licensing and endorsement deals for Bear Grylls. The goal of the company is to develop and endorse projects that embrace adventure and inspire people to realize their dreams.  Several product partners include Gerber Knives, Craghoppers, Bushnell, JIVO, F84 Games, Bear River and Kyocera.