41-year-old naturalist, author and television presenter Steve Backshall –who has stood in front of some of the world’s most deadly animals –has yet to enter his wildest challenge. The BAFTA-winning adventurer, who fronts popular kids’ show Deadly 60, confirmed his appearance on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing last month. Are you excited to get to know his moves closer? Read more about him below!
He said about going on the show: ‘My day job filming wildlife in jungles and swamps is nothing like as scary as what is ahead. I think Strictly Come Dancing is going to be my wildest challenge by far!’
According to his website, Steve has been passionate about the wild world ever since he could crawl, and, growing up, counted as his best pals the animals that lived around him. He graduated with a with a degree in English and Theatre studies from Exeter University and he is also a black belt in martial arts which would explain his great shape.
Over the following years, Steve wrote for the Indonesian Rough Guides and, during his travels, became conversant in the local language, drank blood with uncontacted tribes, nearly got caught in fatal crossfire in riots in East Timor, came nose to nose with Komodo Dragons, and attempted to walk solo across Irian Jaya.
Armed with an idea for a television series, Steve headed out to Colombia. Living in the jungle, he wrangled snakes and ended up in a Colombian jail (through no fault of his own)! National Geographic Channel International bought the resultant video and Steve was taken on as ‘Adventurer in Residence’, producing, filming and presenting adventure and natural history programmes. Steve has circumnavigated the globe time and again
He’s travelled to over 100 countries around the world making first ascents of remote jungle mountains or descending into hidden sinkholes in search of new species, climbing the world’s highest peaks or completing some of the world’s most demanding endurance races. Steve has continued to push back the boundaries of exploration whilst capturing it all on camera or in words.
Along his amazing journeys, he has come across with several people, making friends along the way and meeting interesting gals, from Olympic cyclists to bright and pretty researchers.
The guy obviously has a pretty extraordinary lifestyle and maybe that could be the reason not many women have been associated with him. So far, we believe the naturalist who reaches parts of the world others just can’t reach, is single.
Outside television, Steve started studying for his biology degree in 2000 with the Open University, attained his diploma in Natural Sciences, and has completed one of his finals courses, though is struggling to find time to complete the degree. He has published several books, ‘Venom’, ‘Deadly 60’, ‘The Wildlife Adventurer’s Guide’, ‘Looking For Adventure’.
Earlier this year he said during an interview about giving up a normal life:
I come from a very close family and I’d always assumed I’d be married with kids by the time I was in my mid-twenties. But I turned 40 last year, I’m single and I have no kids, as I’ve not been able to hold down a relationship in years. How could I? Last year I was away for nearly 11 months, totally out of contact, so that part of my life has had to take a back seat. I do regret it, though, as I’m at the age when I’m wondering where [a family] is going to come from.
Think his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing will help his personal life?
Find him on Twitter here.
