The Island With Bear Grylls To Return

Channel 4 has confirmed that The Island With Bear Grylls is to return for a new series later this Spring.

This series, which is the fourth commissioned by the broadcaster, will focus on the generation gap to see if stereotypes about the young and old are actually true. When thrown into a survival situation, who will be better equipped?

Sixteen people will take part in the challenge where they will face treacherous weather conditions, severely limited resources, environmental hazards and near starvation.

Two separate groups – from two different generations – will be abandoned on a pair of remote uninhabited islands in the Pacific Ocean. On one island, eight castaways aged between 18 and 30 will be left, while on the neighbouring island will be a group of eight much older castaways. Neither group knows the other is there, but will they find each other?

Commenting on the format, Bear Grylls said: "I think it was the hardest season we've ever done. We had horrific conditions, beyond anything we've ever seen over four series of this show. Every hour brings a fresh twist and turn. And it's a full-on mental, physical, emotional and spiritual assault."

He continued: "It was so revealing, doing the whole male and female theme last time. One of the things I always think is that young people get a really hard time. Everyone's got opinions about young people, and those opinions are not always great.

"Sometimes young people lack opportunities, but one thing they don't lack is ambition. So, I thought, let's see if the exuberance and passion of youth can triumph over the experience and dogged determination and hardiness of so many older people.

"That's another whole demographic that everybody has an opinion about, but my experience of slightly more senior people as that they are often hard as nails."

The six-part series will air on Channel 4 later this year.

www.channel4.com

(JP)