Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HYLAND
Bear Grylls set up a tantalising prospect on ITV last night when he wondered how Simon Cowell might fare on one of his wilderness challenges.
Well, it would pull in record ratings for sure, Bear. Unfortunately, unless someone starts making hiking shoes with a six-inch platform heel it’s always going to be a no from Simon.
David Walliams wasn’t a bad second choice though. In terms of entertainment this was one of the best celebrity specials Bear has done – not least when David realised skewered rat was on the menu.
“I’m vegan,” he said. “Yeah, just turned vegan a second ago. So I can’t eat that.”
It appeared Bear’s main mission was to persuade David to take things seriously. “I don’t know where he’s going to come from,” said David as he waited for his guide to arrive.
“He could jump out of the bushes naked,” he added, more in hope than jest.
By the seven-minute mark
Bear had David’s full attention.
That was when he showed him the 150-foot quarry he wanted him to abseil into.
Considering he has swum the Thames and the English Channel it was a surprise to see David looking so nervous throughout his day in the wilds of Devon.
At one point he even asked Bear: “If you kill me what are they going to do on Britain’s Got Talent?”
I’d say the answer to that was quite obvious, David: minute’s silence for you, Golden Buzzer for Bear.