Press release from NBC, Aug. 31, 2015:
NBC and Electus today announced that President Barack Obama will trek through the wilderness with survival expert Bear Grylls for a Special Edition of “Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” during a visit to Alaska.
President Obama will meet with Grylls while visiting Alaska to observe the effects of climate change on the area. The two will then come together in the Alaskan Wilderness. President Obama will become the first U.S. president to receive a crash course in survival techniques from Bear Grylls. The visit will be taped and aired on NBC later this year.
Now in its second season on NBC, “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” follows Grylls as he takes America’s biggest celebrities – including Kate Winslet, Drew Brees, Kate Hudson, Zac Efron, Michelle Rodriguez and Channing Tatum – on one-on-one adventures that test their survival skills and push them to their mental and physical limits.
Along with Bear Grylls, the journey will be produced by Delbert Shoopman and Dave Pearce of Bear Grylls Ventures, Chris Grant, Viki Cacciatore and Liz Schulze of Electus.
About Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls is known worldwide as one of the most-recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure. After three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, with the legendary SAS, Grylls went on to become one of the youngest climbers ever to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Grylls starred in seven seasons of the Discovery Channel’s Emmy Award-nominated “Man vs. Wild” TV series, reaching an estimated 1.2 billion viewers. He now hosts NBC’s “The Island” and “Running Wild with Bear Grylls.” Off-screen, Grylls has led record-breaking expeditions from Antarctica to the Arctic, raising many millions of dollars for children’s charities around the world. In recognition for his expertise and service, Grylls was appointed as the youngest-ever Chief Scout to 30 million Scouts worldwide and was awarded an honorary commission as a Commander in the Royal Navy and as a Colonel in the notoriously tough Royal Marines Commandos. He has authored 15 books, including his autobiography “Mud, Sweat & Tears”, which became a #1 international bestseller. He is married with three young boys and together they live on a small, remote Welsh island off the UK coast.
About NBC
NBC Entertainment develops and schedules the network’s primetime, late-night, and daytime programming. NBC’s quality programs and balanced lineup have earned the network critical acclaim, numerous awards and ratings success. The network finished the 2014-15 season as No. 1 in the 18-49 demo for the second year in a row. NBC has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history. NBC’s scripted slate is highlighted by “The Blacklist” as well as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Grimm,” “The Night Shift,” “The Mysteries of Laura” and “Undateable.” New series in the fall include “Blindspot,” “The Player” and “Chicago Med.”
Unscripted series for NBC include the Emmy Award-winning musical competition hit “The Voice” as well as “American Ninja Warrior,” “Celebrity Apprentice,” “The Biggest Loser,” “Hollywood Game Night” and the perennial #1 most-watched summer series, “America’s Got Talent.” Upcoming this fall is “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris.”