Steven Kelly, a 40-year-old from Bootle, credits his upbringing for his ability to handle extreme challenges as he appears on the new BBC Two show Bear Grylls: Wild Expedition tonight at 6.30pm. The former army sergeant major stars alongside his wife Jenny, tackling survival challenges designed to resolve relationship conflicts.
Military background and TV experience
Steven retired from the army after 23 years, having specialised in survival training. He previously appeared on two editions of the Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid, which took him to the Colombian jungle and South Africa with no food, clothes, or water.
He described the South Africa experience as the hardest thing he has ever done, apart from his commando course. He lived off dung beetles and drank water shared by crocodiles and hippos during a massive drought.
Bootle roots and family conflict
Steven said his Bootle upbringing, though "rough around the edges," set him up for life. He joined the military at 17 after his dad encouraged him to avoid the streets, and he believes the people of Liverpool and Bootle gave him the mindset to succeed.
The show's conflict for Steven and Jenny was whether to buy or rent a house. He wanted to rent; she wanted to buy. Through the survival challenges, they reached a resolution: they decided to rent and prioritise freedom.
Looking ahead
Now a survival instructor in Plymouth, Steven plans to travel to Seattle in two weeks, with a skiing trip in January and an arctic expedition in Sweden. He praised Bear Grylls and said the show proved to be perfect therapy for him and his wife as they watch their episode tonight.
