One of the world’s most recognizable survivalists, Bear Grylls, swapped the rugged cliffs of Norway for the bright lights of the “Fox & Friends” studio this week — at least for a short time.
Joining host Brian Kilmeade, Grylls discussed the ninth season of his hit show, “Running Wild,” which makes its debut on FOX.
While most talk shows involve celebrities sitting on a sofa to promote their latest project, the approach by Grylls is a bit more visceral.
HEALTHY DIETS SPARK LUNG CANCER RISK IN NON-SMOKERS AS PESTICIDES LOOM
The new season of his show features a heavy-hitting lineup, including Matthew McConaughey, whom Grylls took to a glacier in Norway.
Kilmeade joked about Grylls’ casual appearance. But the survivalist was quick to note that his mother often called him the scruffiest person in the room.
For Grylls, however, the attire is a uniform for a job that bridges the gap between A-list glamour and rugged human experience.
“The wild never judges,” Grylls said on “Fox & Friends.”
RARE ROMAN MOSAIC SHOWS WOMAN BATTLING WILD ANIMALS IN THE ARENA, RESEARCHER SAYS
“I’ve done this all my life. … My dad was a former Marine, taught me a lot of this stuff. … This became my world,” Grylls said.
When asked why some of the most successful people on Earth would willingly subject themselves to the harsh conditions seen in the show’s promos — such as eating snakes or boiling water to avoid illness — Grylls said, for these stars, the appeal is about authenticity.
“It’s different [from] a chat show, where you sit on the sofa, and there’s a performance for three minutes to tell a funny story,” Grylls said.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“Nature does my job for me. Like I said, it opens people up. I think a lot of these stars — they want the experience of what the wild can give you.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
The duo reviewed a clip of McConaughey learning the hard way that even “pristine” Norwegian water needs to be boiled to avoid a mid-journey disaster.
Reflecting on nine seasons of taking world leaders and icons into the brush, Grylls shared his biggest takeaway.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“Everyone’s just a regular person underneath it all,” he said. “I admire the fact that they’re out of their comfort zone. And that becomes a discipline. Successful people do the difficult.”
“Running Wild” airs tonight on FOX, with episodes available for streaming the following day on Hulu.
