Bear Grylls, the renowned adventurer, has put several celebrities to the ultimate test in the latest season of Nat Geo’s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge.” Among the star-studded lineup are Bradley Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Cynthia Erivo, Russell Brand, Troy Kotsur, Rita Ora, Daveed Diggs, and Tatiana Maslany. The show, premiering on Sunday, pushes these celebrities to their limits as they brave harsh environments and learn essential survival skills.

Over the course of 48 hours, Grylls guides the celebrities through challenging terrain, teaching them vital techniques such as climbing, water-finding, and fire-setting. On the second day, the guests are left alone to put their newfound skills into practice.

The challenges faced by the celebrities are awe-inspiring. For instance, Kotsur, an Oscar winner for “CODA,” descended 2,500 feet across the Scottish Highlands, traversing eight miles of treacherous terrain and freezing rivers. Grylls and Kotsur communicated through rope tugs due to Kotsur’s deafness. In the end, Kotsur’s reward was a taste of haggis, a traditional Scottish dish.

In another episode, Daveed Diggs, a self-proclaimed city kid, finds himself in the inhospitable Great Basin Desert in Nevada. He learns anchor point techniques, target tracking, and fire-making. To add to the adventure, his dinner consists of a tarantula.

While the show primarily focuses on survival, it also offers a glimpse into the personal lives of the celebrities. Grylls creates an environment where guests open up about their experiences, revealing different aspects of their personalities. Whether it’s Rita Ora discussing her ties to Kosovo, Bradley Cooper fearlessly eating mule deer tongue, or Benedict Cumberbatch sharing stories about his grandfather, the conversations around the campfire go beyond typical interview settings.

Grylls believes that the most compelling guests are those who are willing to embrace the challenges without worrying about their image. He emphasizes the unpredictability of the wilderness and the importance of authenticity.

“Running Wild with Bear Grylls” offers viewers an opportunity to witness the human spirit being tested and stripped down to its core. Grylls aims to showcase the real personalities of his guests, often uncovering the influences their parents had in nurturing their sense of adventure.

As Grylls juggles multiple shows, including “I Survived Bear Grylls” and “You vs. Wild,” his message remains clear: adventure is not limited to the wild but can be infused into various aspects of life. With an adventurous spirit, a supportive circle of friends, and an unwavering determination, Grylls hopes to inspire others to embrace an audacious and boundary-pushing approach to life.

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