Bear Grylls has defended his decision to baptise Russell Brand, saying his faith teaches him not to judge people. The TV survivalist faced backlash in 2024 when he was one of two people present at Brand's baptism in the River Thames, just five months after the comedian was first accused of sexual assault, which he denies.
Faith and Doubts
Speaking ahead of his new Amazon Prime series The Chosen in the Wild, Grylls told Metro that his feelings on the baptism haven't changed, despite Brand later admitting to having sex with a 16-year-old at age 30 and pleading not guilty to new rape and sexual assault charges.
'I think all our faith changes and evolves, and I'd also say I have many doubts as well. I really struggle with so much of it. But I don't know, I think at heart, my faith says we're connected together and we need each other, and not to judge people and to love people,' he said.
Guiding Mantra
Grylls shared that the phrase 'What would Christ do?' remains a steady mantra, shaping how he approaches 'relationships and your own life and risk and adventure and all that stuff.' He added, 'I really try and keep that as that compass in my life. I don't know. It's like I say, I'm not super religious, but I do try and just start the day as a discipline on my knees and to say sorry, and to say thank you, and then to say help for the day ahead, and then I crack on with it.'
New Series and Personal Connection
In The Chosen in the Wild, Grylls takes the main cast of The Chosen—Jonathan Roumie (Jesus), Paras Patel (Matthew), Elizabeth Tabish (Mary Magdalene), Noah James (Andrew), and Luke Dimyan (Judas)—on adventures in the wild. He called it the show with 'the most fan anticipation' in his career.
'I don't think I've ever had so much emotion across so many episodes, such consistent, honest vulnerability and heart from actors as I have in Chosen in the Wild, because these roles really have changed their lives, and that surprised me. It really did,' he shared.
Grylls revealed that the show fulfilled a lifelong dream: 'I was nervous because my secret dream would be to do Running Wild with Jesus, and this was about as close as I was ever going to get.' He added that Jonathan Roumie is 'incredibly honest about his battles and struggles with playing Jesus on a personal level.'
Faith in Nature
For Grylls, his Christian faith 'comes alive' most in nature and among friends. 'Even if I lie on the grass a little bit with the dogs or put my feet in a stream or connect with the earth again, for me that is my spirituality. Those two things actually shape my faith: friendships and the outdoors. Chosen in the Wild, as a show, brings those two things together beautifully, and in a way I didn't anticipate.'
All six episodes of The Chosen in the Wild will be available to stream from August 9, 2026, on Prime Video.
