This post is to recommend a program that finished a couple of weeks ago but was brilliant viewing from start to finish (and can still be found on YouTube - although I'm sure there is one without adverts on there somewhere).
The Island With Bear Grylls.
To be honest I was initially put off by the addition of Bear Grylls but luckily he's not in it very much, just a few talking head moments and a little intro that you can fast forward.
The premise of the show is to leave two groups of people, 14 men and 14 women, on two separate islands with the most basic of kits, no food and only enough water to survive a day and see how they do. What sets this programme apart from others in a similar vein is that even the camera men and women are involved and are going through the exact same experiences.
What makes it really interesting is seeing how people react when they're surviving on so few calories each day (average less than 400 per day) and how they either pull together as a team or fall apart. Both sets of programmes (they run as either the men's island or the women's island) will have you watching them in very different ways. The women will have you screaming at the TV for the silly things they do and for the little bits of extra help they seem to be having (like the tame piglets that happen to walk up to them - lunch anyone?) and the fact that they get lost for about four days. The men handle it better, build camp, find food but have lots of in fighting, they enjoy some great moments as well.
Really interesting programme and anyone who has an interest in survival would really enjoy it. It can also be found through the Channel Four website but you need to give your details and subscribe (not sure if that works if you don't live in the UK).
What do you think - could you survive on an island like that for 6 weeks? I'd love to have a go but I could never leave my girls for that long at the age they are, maybe when they're older!
Did anyone else watch it?
I was watching it every week and then watched it on back to back repeat with martin when he was home on friday nights, it was a brilliant show and interesting to compare with the two groups, there is no way I could be stuck out there with either of the groups but I think I could survive with Martin and a few people of my own choosing :-)
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting seeing how people change and handle the situation. I was annoyed that so many drop out at the start though, someone else could have taken that opportunity and used it. I'd like to think I could survive but I do struggle with certain groups of people.
DeleteBear Grills is an absolute turn-off for me. Can't stand the hype and unabashed effort to target the 9 yr old audience on his shows. For some reason the producers of these show always need to hype the tension between participants and the eminent risks but then suggest it is OK for some inexperienced shlep to rappel down a waterfall or some other such foolishness. The drinking the juice out of elephant dung was the jump the shark moment for me. I suppose the series will eventually make its way to the US and I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteWe have been watching a new eight part series on Animal Planet called the last Alaskans about the last families living off the grid in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. It is really good with no silly narration or over dubbed scenes. Just the subjects telling their own story. Don't know if you'll ever get it over there in the UK.
http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/the-last-alaskans/
I'll add that to my list of programmes to watch, I've found lots on YouTube lately, but if you have any recommendations I'll probably enjoy them.
DeleteThis show isn't about bear grylls, he annoys the hell out of me as well and I've no doubt you'd end up dead if you were with him. I think you'd really like this.
I couldn't no but I rather fancy a bash at that Celebrity get me out of here - without the celebrity part of course! The Island is the sort of show my husband would watch, with me peering over a book or my knitting
ReplyDeleteNo way could I eat anything raw and danglely like they do on that show!
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