I always think it’s the best career in the world, even when there are down moments”

“Those are the tremendous privileges that come with a career like mine.”

Despite its amazing perks, Steve Backshall has had some dangerous moments in his life as an explorer, including breaking his back in a rock climbing accident in 2008.

Steve said: “I always think it’s the best career in the world, even when there are down moments.

“There are expeditions where you have very long periods of time in the tropical rainforests, being constantly rained on and eaten alive by bugs and tics where you’re not finding the wildlife you’ve gone out to find, where things are challenging and maybe you get ill. Even in those moments I know full well that in a week’s time it’s going to be amazing again.”

Steve told the Gazette that inspiring people to pursue sciences and exploring is an important part of his job, with fans of his going on to study subjects like zoology and marine biology.

Steve said: “If I had any mission in life, [inspiring children] would be it. For the first ten years of my career I was doing it because I loved it, because I was having amazing adventures, because I was getting to explore the world. It was just sensational. But then I thought there needs to be more to it than that, there needs to be a purpose.

“There is so much that my kind of life has to offer to young people. Not everyone is lucky enough to have had role models and the opportunities that I’ve had, so I think making sure that young people know what there is out there, to know what they can go after and what they can achieve, and just trying to make it cool more than anything, is really important.

“That can get people started and that can change lives.”

The Wild World tour will accompany the release of Shark Seas, the fourth book in The Falcon Chronicles series of children’s novels.

The new book is due to be released ahead of the tour, and will be able to buy at each venue.

Steve said: “[Shark Seas] is the latest in a line of books called The Falcon Chronicles, which follows my hero and my heroine around the world.

“They’re on the run, they’re being chased by a shadowy organisation known as The Clan, but they find themselves embroiled in some of the world’s most intense conservation conundrums. This time it’s the crisis that’s facing sharks around the world.

“First and foremost the books are great adventures, a massive roller-coaster thrill ride, but I’m also trying to get as much information about animals, and as much information about the challenges that face animals as I can.”

Steve said his future holds much more exploring and wildlife expeditions to far corners of the world.

He said: “What I would most like to do is to do lots more expeditions, really genuinely exploring in an old-fashioned way, going to places where people have never been to before, discovering new species of animals. That, to me, is the most exciting thing.”

As well as visiting venues around the UK, Steve Backshall will be performing at the following venues in west London – The Beck Theatre in Hayes (October 25), the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington (November 11) and Richmond Theatre in Richmond (November 20).

Steve Backshall’s Wild World tickets are now on sale.