The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Ben Fogle: Tales From The Wilderness
Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, January 31
Twenty years ago, a young Ben Fogle packed a few possessions and headed north from London to the island of Taransay for what became one of TV’S most genuine social experiments, Castaway.
This was no overprivileged city dweller; he had already studied in Costa Rica and served in the Royal Naval Reserve.
However, he recalls being: “Excited and nervous! I didn’t really know what to expect. Spending a year with a group of strangers is a big deal but I was so excited about the opportunity.”
Ben is speaking from a swamp in Georgia, filming a revisit series of Return to the Wild, where he revisits the “wild” men and women from the series New Lives in the Wild, currently airing on Channel 5.
As you read this, he will have returned and set off on his Tales From The Wilderness tour, which arrives in Dunfermline next Friday.
The years between have been filled with experiences from the summit of Everest – which he sees as the “culmination of so many building blocks in my life and something that really changed me as a person” – to swimming with crocodiles.
Many of these experiences will be covered in the show but Ben sees it more as a show that can inspire people to embark on their own adventures.
“I’d like to think the show is inspiring and uplifting.
“The message I strive to leave is the notion that we all have our own Everest to climb – go for it. There are so many reasons why not and sometimes only one reason why you should.”
Now married with two young children, being away from home is tougher than it was but goes with his global territory.
“I do have constantly itchy feet now. I just love the excitement of travelling – new places, sounds, colours, smells. When I’m home, though, I spend every waking moment with my family; we are a very tight unit.”
Also a passionate environmental campaigner, Ben knows that it would be impossible to make the programmes he does without air travel but “I now drive electric and we have an electric boiler. We reduce our consumption and recycle.
“Travel is also changing; more and more people are exploring their own countries now. In fact, we’re not too long returned from the Outer Hebrides. My family are originally from Scotland.”
Looking back at the Taransay experience, Ben had no idea of the potential impact.
“It was before reality shows really existed, so I never had any hopes of success or stardom. I just went for the adventure.”
See benfogle.com for more information and tickets.