Grylls has stated numerous times on camera that he is not to receive any assistance unless his life is in danger. However, in July 2007 it was reported in the mainstream media that at least portions of some episodes were staged and that Bear did not always survive without help. One of the more serious allegations is that while Grylls claimed to be sleeping outdoors, he was allegedly sleeping in hotels (although on Jimmy Kimmel Live, before the accusations came out, Bear stated that only the cameramen were flown out at night). The Discovery Channel said that future airings would be edited to reflect such things [4], [5], [6], [7].
Other reported instances of outside influence or staged situations include the following:
Grylls admitted wearing a flotation device in the pilot episode to ride down a river in a staged shot, citing safety reasons. He claimed that he was displeased with the decision, which came from Discovery producers, and has since been able to avoid the use of such devices.[8]
The director of the Desert Island episode, Graham Strong, noted that a diver was at hand who checked for sharks while Bear was adrift (he didn't spot the tigers, only reef sharks), and that "we" beat on the raft to scare the tiger sharks away. Also, in the Copper Canyon, Mexico episode, director Scott Tankard says that the local indian tribe, the Rarámuri indians, acted as their guides.[9].
According to the survival consultant for the show's Sierra Nevada and Desert Island episodes, Mark Wienart of Lifesong Adventures, the "wild" horses in the Sierra Nevada episode were shipped in for a choreographed feature. [10][11]
The Desert Island raft wasn't made by Bear; it was made by a team of people over a week and a half, using rope, and was dissembled for Bear to put together on camera.[12][13]
Crew members simulated molten lava by using smoke machines and hot coals. The smoke machines were used to simulate poisonous sulphur dioxide, though Grylls was not in fact facing real danger. [14]
Grylls gives the impression of being lost when he is only a few yards from tourist locations and areas of relatively heavy traffic. [15]
Hiring a man in a bear suit because they couldn't get a tame bear, running the show with a "script" (with scheduled scenes such as "Scene 10 - Grizzly Attacks Camp"), pretending that a snake found dead on the side of a road was alive, eating steak inside a badger skin, and hoisting Bear into a tree to make it look like his parachute "snagged" [16]
According to a C4 executive, "“If what has been alleged is proven to be true, I think the channel would have to think very seriously about its future relationship with him.”[17]
