Steve Backshall

Backshall's parents worked for British Airways, and he was brought up in a smallholding in Bagshot surrounded by rescue animals.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/tv-wildlife-presenter-steve-backshall-is-about-to-face-his-biggest-fear--strictly-come-dancing-9709447.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/tv-wildlife-presenter-steve-backshall-is-about-to-face-his-biggest-fear--strictly-come-dancing-9709447.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=TV wildlife presenter Steve Backshall is about to face his biggest fear ... Strictly Come Dancing|newspaper=The Independent|date=7 September 2014|access-date=5 October 2014|first=Lena|last=Corner}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/may/26/steve-backshall-naturalist-tv-family-book|newspaper=The Guardian|title=Steve Backshall: The wild man from Surrey|date=26 May 2012|access-date=10 March 2013|last=McGrath|first=Nick}}

Backshall attended Collingwood College in Camberley and Brooklands College, Surrey in the sixth form. He backpacked solo around Asia, India and Africa. After this he studied English and theatre studies at the University of Exeter. In 2020, he received his MSc in bioscience from Canterbury Christ Church University.{{Cite web|title=Steve Backshall's story|website=Canterbury.ac.uk|url=https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/student-life/why-canterbury-christ-church-university/steve-backshalls-story}}{{Cite web|title=Steve Backshall - Christ Church Alumni Hub|url=https://cccualumni.com/alumni-stories/steve-backshall/|website=-Cccualumni.com}}

{{BLP sources section|date=December 2022}}

Backshall's first job after returning from Japan{{clarify|date=March 2024}} was as an author in the Rough Guides to Indonesia and South East Asia.

In 1997, Backshall attempted to walk solo across the western half of New Guinea, then known as Irian Jaya; he was in the rainforest for three months, but was ultimately unsuccessful. He then had an idea for a series, bought a video camera, and went to the jungles of Colombia, where he made a pilot which he sold to the National Geographic Channel, which employed him in 1998 as its 'Adventurer in Residence' and he spent five years as a producer and presenter. For National Geographic International, Backshall presented the expedition series Game For It and the environmental series EarthPulse.

On A Walk in The Desert he walked across Israel's Negev Desert. For Bootcamp, he completed the Israeli special forces selection course, running 60 miles overnight to gain their red beret. Cracking the Canyon was nominated for Best Adventure Film at the Banff Mountain Film Festival.

File:Deadly 60 - Steve Backshall - Norwich (cropped).jpg

In 2003, he moved to BBC's The Really Wild Show.{{Cite web |url=https://www.discoveryuk.com/web/swimming-with-monsters/about/steve-backshall-biography/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=17 May 2023 |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517220615/https://www.discoveryuk.com/web/swimming-with-monsters/about/steve-backshall-biography/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.stevebackshall.com/profile.php|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429065323/http://www.stevebackshall.com/profile.php|url-status=dead|title=Steve Backshall.com Personal profile|archive-date=29 April 2015|access-date=17 May 2023}} In his first series, he travelled up Australia's east coast from Tasmania to Cape Tribulation. In the next series, he travelled around Central America, the Galapagos, and then Southern Africa for the final series in 2006. He competed with fellow naturalist Nick Baker in a series of wildlife challenges. After four years, The Really Wild Show was axed so he joined the BBC Natural History Unit's expedition team.

In Expedition Borneo, BBC 2005, the team went in search of new species. With other cavers he made the first exploration of the passages below the mighty 'Solo' sinkhole in the Mulu mountains of Borneo, and also made the first ascent of the north side of Mount Kuli.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/expeditions/stories/published/by/stevebackshall|title=BBC expedition stories|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=11 December 2022}}

He co-presented Springwatch Trackers (BBC Two) with Kirsten O'Brien which was broadcast live from the Springwatch farm in Devon between 28 May and 15 June 2007. Teams of boys and girls were set a series of tracker challenges.

In 2008, his Deadly 60 was commissioned, followed by the Live n Deadly offshoot, the aim of which was to inspire children to get outside and interested in wildlife and adventure; his live wildlife question and answer appearances attracted up to 14,000 people per event. In the "Deadly" programmes he searched for predators that were "Not just deadly to me, but deadly in their own world". He dived outside of the cage with great white, bull, great hammerhead, mako and tiger sharks, caught king cobras, black mambas and lanceheads, had a redback spider crawl across his hand and was bitten on the leg by a caiman while searching for anaconda in an Argentine swamp.{{cite news|last=Davies |first=Ella |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9166000/9166924.stm |title=BBC – Earth News – Caiman attacks wildlife presenter filming in Argentina |work=BBC News |date=11 November 2010 |access-date=29 May 2012}} The programmes were transmitted on Nat Geo Wild, Animal Planet and BBC to 157 countries worldwide. The fourth season of the series, Deadly Pole to Pole was filmed in 2013–2014 from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica, journeying south through the Americas. The scenarios included being hunted by a polar bear whilst kayaking in Svalbard, filming feeding sharks and eagles (using time-slice photography), exploring flooded caves and the insides of a glacier, and catching dozens of species of snake and crocodile. He was bitten by a shark but was saved by a chain-mail shark suit. The finale was diving underneath Antarctic icebergs alongside predatory leopard seal.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows/deadly-pole-to-pole|publisher=BBC|title=Deadly Pole to Pole|website=Bbbc.co.uk|access-date=11 December 2022}}

In Lost Land of the Jaguar, BBC One 2008, he led the first expedition to successfully climb Mount Upuigma.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110629123834/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/destinations/latin_america/article2837116.ece "Conquering a virgin"], The Times, 11 November 2007. On the summit, they discovered an endemic species of frog and mouse, and also footprints of an unidentified mammal. Lead climber John Arran named the route "Spiders in the Mist" and gave it a British grade of E7.

He filmed Ultimate Caving, BBC One 2008, with Kate Humble, Secret Wilderness Japan, BBC Two 2008, and also presented Nature Reports for the BBC's The One Show.{{Cite web|url=http://www.josarsby.com/steve_backshall.php|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220140448/http://www.josarsby.com/steve_backshall.php|url-status=dead|title=Jo Sarsby Management: Steve Backshall|archive-date=20 February 2010|access-date=17 May 2023}}

In Lost Land of the Volcano, BBC One 2009, he led the first western expedition into the crater of the extinct volcano, Mount Bosavi, in Papua New Guinea, where they discovered, among other things, one of the largest species of rats known anywhere in the world, provisionally called the Bosavi woolly rat while its scientific name is determined.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8210000/8210394.stm|title=Giant rat found in 'lost volcano'|date=6 September 2009|last=Walker|first=Matt}} They also uncovered miles of undiscovered passages in the Mageni cave system in New Britain.

In Lost Land of the Tiger, BBC One 2010, the expedition team travelled to Bhutan and filmed, via remote cameras, the Bengal tigers above the tree-line in the Himalayas, categorically higher than had ever been filmed before. Their presence at these altitudes has been previously reported from reports from India, Nepal and Bhutan.{{cite news|last=Walker |first=Matt |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8998000/8998042.stm |title=Lost tiger population discovered in Bhutan mountains |work=BBC News |date=20 September 2010 |access-date=29 May 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/tall-tales-misrepresent-the-real-story-behind-bhutans-high-altitude-tigers-8963|title=Tall tales misrepresent the real story behind Bhutan's high altitude tigers|author=Karl Vernes|date=23 August 2012|work=The Conversation}}

In Supergiants, BBC One 2013, he sought to explain why species grow very large. It included diving with Nile crocodiles in Botswana, sperm whales in the Caribbean, and avoiding 2-ton elephant seals in California.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03bvxt5|title=Supergiant Animals|publisher=BBC}}

In 2013, he voiced Nature's Microworlds on BBC Four.

He was a contestant on the twelfth series of Strictly Come Dancing from September 2014 on BBC One. He was partnered with former champion Ola Jordan. The couple left the series in week nine after dancing a jive to "Little Bitty Pretty One" by Frankie Lymon.

In August 2015, along with Matt Baker and Liz Bonnin, Backshall co-presented Big Blue Live, a series of three programmes for BBC1, featuring marine life in Monterey Bay, California.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/big-blue-live-bbcs-springwatch-offshoot-swaps-back-gardens-for-californias-monterey-bay-10464469.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/big-blue-live-bbcs-springwatch-offshoot-swaps-back-gardens-for-californias-monterey-bay-10464469.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Big Blue Live: BBC's Springwatch offshoot swaps back gardens for California's Monterey Bay |newspaper=independent.co.uk |first=Simon |last=Usborne |date=20 August 2015 |access-date=26 August 2015}} The series won a BAFTA for best live series.

In 2016, the BBC aired a series called Steve Backshall's Extreme Mountain Challenge, in which the explorer attempted another first ascent by climbing one of Venezuela's remote and forbidding tepuis - sheer-sided flat-top mountains. In episode 1 Backshall and his team tackle Amaurai Tepui in south Venezuela's Canaima National Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b073gr87|title=Steve Backshall's Extreme Mountain Challenge|publisher=BBC|access-date=8 March 2016}} The expedition nearly ended in tragedy when a storm hit the mountain, and rockfall nearly hit his climbing partner, Aldo Kane.

In 2017, the BBC premiered another two-part documentary following Backshall's expedition to New Guinea called Down the Mighty River with Steve Backshall. The team of whitewater kayakers attempted to make the first ever descent of the 500 mile long Baliem River in Papua; an expedition Backshall had been planning since 1997.{{cite book |title=Looking for Adventure |date=2007 |first=Steve |last=Backshall |publisher=Orion Publishing Group, Limited |isbn=978-0753828724}} Over the course of six weeks, they battled against some of the hardest whitewater on earth, capsizes, illness and local politics. Eventually they made it from source to sea, although were open that they had not kayaked the entire length of the journey. A two-part series Japan's Northern Wilderness was presented by Backshall and his wife Helen Glover. A three-part series, Wild Alaska Live, co-presented by Liz Bonnin and Matt Baker, aired in July 2017.

In January 2018, Backshall participated in And They're Off! in aid of Sport Relief. Later in the year, he appeared in the first five episodes of Springwatch for 2018 and also presented an hour-long documentary Steve Backshall Vs The Monster Mountain on CBBC. In summer 2018, he presented a ten-part series entitled Deadly Dinosaurs, also for CBBC.

In March 2019, Backshall, along with Liz Bonnin and Chris Packham, presented a four-part series Blue Planet Live on BBC One. Backshall was seen diving live with great hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, bull sharks and reef sharks from the shark sanctuary of Bimini.

In 2018-19, Backshall launched the project Expedition, which was televised by BBC2, UKTV, SBS, PBS and Discovery Asia. This involved ten expeditions to parts of the globe that had never been explored before. The team uncovered many miles of sunken cave passages in the cenotes of the Yucatan. They made the first descents of rivers in Suriname and discovered a waterfall that had no record of ever being seen before. At over 100 m high, it was the second highest in the nation. In Bhutan on the first descent of the Chamkhar Chhu river, Backshall was caught in a rapid for five minutes and nearly drowned. His life was saved by rescue kayaker Sal Montgomery.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2019/07/15/steve-backshall-had-horrible-guilt-leaving-pregnant-wife-travel/ |title=Steve Backshall: I had 'horrible guilt' over leaving my pregnant wife to travel the world |work=Daily Telegraph |first=Nick |last=Harding |date=15 July 2019 |access-date=2 June 2020 }} They also made an ascent of Jebel Samnhan in Oman, and the first exploration of a desert canyon with a local explorer.

In Venom Hunter, Discovery Channel TV, 2008, he travelled South America aiming to find out as much as possible about venom, including taking part in the bullet ant ritual where he was stung hundreds of times by the world's most painful stinging insect.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VarqiOM4-Fg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/VarqiOM4-Fg |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Bullet ant ritual - awesome!|work=YouTube|date=27 December 2008 }}{{cbignore}}

In Swimming with Monsters, Discovery TV 2013, he swam with large animals, including anaconda, hippopotamus, Humboldt squid, and great white sharks without the safety of a cage.{{Cite web|last=Jacques|first=Adam|date=23 February 2014|title=Steve Backshall: The adventurer on swimming with great whites, holding a gorilla by the hand, and his failed relationships|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/steve-backshall-adventurer-swimming-great-whites-holding-gorilla-hand-and-his-failed-relationships-9144490.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/steve-backshall-adventurer-swimming-great-whites-holding-gorilla-hand-and-his-failed-relationships-9144490.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription|url-status=live|website=The Independent}}

In 2006, he filmed Inside the King Cobra for Sky One.

In 2017, Channel 5 aired one-hour documentary called Meet the Hedgehogs presented by Backshall and Brian May.{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel5.com/show/meet-the-hedgehogs|title=Meet The Hedgehogs|website=Channel 5|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-12}}

Backshall began working as a writer for publisher Rough Guides, and is an author on their Indonesia guide.{{cite book|title=The Rough Guide to Indonesia, Second Edition: Rough Guides: 9781858289915: Amazon.com: Books|isbn=1858289912|last1=Backshall|first1=Stephen|year=2003|publisher=Rough Guides }} He continues to contribute to British newspapers.

• Venom: Poisonous Creatures in the Natural World, 2007, is a scientific analysis of venoms and poisons with an in-depth look at animals that use natural toxins.New Holland Publishers. {{ISBN|978-1-84537-734-2}}
• Deadly 60 is the book of series one, and is a diary style breakdown of each animal and how they were found and filmed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newhollandpublishers.com/details.asp?pid=9781847734303&t=Steve-Backshall's-Deadly-60|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829173937/http://www.newhollandpublishers.com/details.asp?pid=9781847734303&t=Steve-Backshall's-Deadly-60|url-status=dead|title=Backshall's Deadly 60|archive-date=29 August 2009|access-date=17 May 2023}}
• Wildlife Adventurer's Guide was published in 2009. It is aimed at young naturalists, and provides a guide to having adventures in the UK.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newhollandpublishers.com/details.asp?pid=9781847733245&t=Steve-Backshall's-Wildlife-Adventurer's-Guide-|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118010633/http://www.newhollandpublishers.com/details.asp?pid=9781847733245&t=Steve-Backshall's-Wildlife-Adventurer's-Guide-|url-status=dead|title=New Holland Publishers Wildlife Adventure's Guide|archive-date=18 January 2010|access-date=17 May 2023}}
• Looking for Adventure, 2011, describes his expeditions in New Guinea; his childhood and how he got into television.
• Predators is an illustrated guide to predatory animals.{{cite web |url=http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/news/orion-children-s-books-to-publish-action-packed-steve-backshall-books |title=Orion Children's Books to publish action-packed Steve Backshall books |publisher=Orion Books |date=15 February 2011 |access-date=29 May 2012 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403022350/http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/news/orion-children-s-books-to-publish-action-packed-steve-backshall-books |url-status=dead }}
• Deadly Diaries is a diary-style book of Series 3 of Deadly 60, released in 2012.
• Deadly Detectives is a 'how to' book, teaching the skills of tracking animals by their signs, scat and prints.{{cite web|url=https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781444012149|title=ISBN Unavailable|work=Orion Publishing Group|access-date=17 December 2013|archive-date=17 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224328/https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781444012149|url-status=dead}}
• Deep Blue: My Ocean Journeys, released in 2023, is a retrospective look back at Backshall's life-long love of wildlife beneath the waves.{{cite web|url=https://www.waterstones.com/book/deep-blue/steve-backshall//9781529144109?awc=3787_1695577136_5599c1400cdc959630196b66618c5da0|title=Deep Blue: My Ocean Journeys|website=waterstones.com|accessdate=24 September 2023}}
• Deadly!: The Ultimate Wildlife Mission, upcoming wildlife book{{cite web|url=https://www.waterstones.com/book/deadly/steve-backshall/9781785949739|title=

Deadly!: The Ultimate Wildlife Mission|website=waterstones.com|accessdate=12 April 2025}}

Backshall stated "I was a big reader when I was a kid ... Fiction was a massive, massive part of my formative years, far more so than television ever was, and I always hoped that my future would lie with writing. When I was given the opportunity I absolutely leapt at it. It's an idea that I've had in mind for a long time, of these two youngsters on the run who become almost wildlife vigilantes, and it's one that I've had tremendous fun writing."

In May 2012, he published the first of a series of fiction novels entitled The Falcon Chronicles.

• Tiger Wars, 2012, is about the adventures of a young boy and girl on the run from a shadowy gang of assassins, set against the background of the war on tiger poaching. In 2013 it reached the selection longlist for the Branford Boase Award for debut novels for children.{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/mayo-and-backshall-branford-boase-longlist.html|title=Mayo and Backshall on Branford Boase longlist|website=Thebookseller.com|date=16 January 2013|last=Allen|first=Katie}}
• Ghosts of the Forest, 2013, is set in the forests of Borneo and Indochina, with the same main characters battling illegal loggers.
• The Wilds of the Wolf, 2014,{{cite web|url=http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781444004397|title=ISBN Unavailable|work=Orion Publishing Group|access-date=17 January 2013|archive-date=17 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217234025/https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781444004397|url-status=dead}} features the same main characters travelling to the Yamal peninsula in Siberia, tracking wolves in the snow, and battling against the big oil and gas companies that are destroying the fragile Arctic environment.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2013/jul/17/steve-backshall-interview|title=Steve Backshall: 'The big predators would run down Usain Bolt without even thinking about it. Your only chance is to stand your ground'|website=Theguardian.com|first=Jon|last=Stapley|date=17 July 2013}}
• Shark Seas, 2016

Backshall stated, "First and foremost I hope that the reader will be entertained," but added "I hope that some of the readers – and if it's a very small percentage that's fine – will come away and want to learn more and will want to go out and find out for themselves what they can do."{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}

Backshall is a rock climber and mountaineer, and does adventure races, fell runs and endurance sports.

In 2014, he summitted the highly technical granite Mount Asgard in Arctic Baffin Island, in one single 27-hour summit push. Ice and alpine climbing are described as being among his great passions, and he has climbed such peaks as Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world at 8201 m, and Cholatse in the Himalayan Khumbu. He qualified as an advanced Himalayan Expedition leader from India's Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. He partnered John Arran and Ivan Calderon up the first ascent of Upuigma-tepui in Venezuela, and led the first ascent of the North face of Mount Kuli in Borneo.

In 2005, he ran the Marathon des Sables 243 km across the Sahara desert{{cite web|url=http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/ |title=Marathon des Sables Introduction |publisher=Saharamarathon.co.uk |date=16 April 2012 |access-date=29 May 2012}} to raise money for the Wolftrust.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wolftrust.org/stevebackshall%7ctitle=NeuroCite%7cwork=NeuroCite|title=NeuroCite|website=Wolftrust.org|access-date=17 May 2023|archive-date=29 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329015810/http://www.wolftrust.org/stevebackshall%7ctitle=NeuroCite%7cwork=NeuroCite|url-status=dead}}

Backshall has a black belt in judo, attained after a year living in Japan studying the martial art.{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/stevebackshall|title=steve backshall|work=Myspace}}

He is an experienced BCU four star sea and whitewater canoeist and has three times completed the 125-mile, 24-hour, canoe race from Devizes to Westminster on the river Thames.{{cite web|author=Electricwebsites – Essex, UK – 0203 0159099 |url=http://www.dwrace.org.uk/ |title=Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon |publisher=Dwrace.org.uk |access-date=29 May 2012}} He has competed in numerous triathlons, adventure races and fell running events. His best finishes include winning the 'Extreme' and 'Last Man Standing' events at UK Tough Guy, finishing 9th overall at Tough Guy and 4th in the Welsh 1000m peak marathon.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wideworldmag.com/feature/print/id/53/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=15 June 2018 |archive-date=25 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325152416/http://www.wideworldmag.com/feature/print/id/53/ |url-status=dead }}

In July 2008, while attempting to climb a wet cliff face in the Wye Valley in the Forest of Dean, he fell {{convert|10|m|ft}} onto rocks. The impact sent his heel bone through the bottom of his foot, dislocated his ankle, and fractured two vertebrae in his back. He required twelve operations and several years of rehab to get back to fitness.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7515532.stm|title=Really Wild Show host breaks back|date=2008-07-19|access-date=2019-11-12|language=en-GB}}

In 2011, Backshall won two BAFTAs; best Children's Television Presenter, and Best Factual series.{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/childrens/2011-childrens-awards-nominations-winners,2169,BA.html |title=2011 British Academy Children's Awards Winners – Children's – Awards – The BAFTA site |publisher=Bafta.org |date=24 November 2011 |access-date=29 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911101315/http://www.bafta.org/awards/childrens/2011-childrens-awards-nominations-winners,2169,BA.html |archive-date=11 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

In 2009 and 2013, he was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Children's Television Presenter. Deadly 60 was nominated for Best Children's series. Lost Land of the Jaguar was nominated for Best Factual series.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/film-nominations-in-2009,657,BA.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211183707/http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/film-nominations-in-2009,657,BA.html|url-status=dead|title=BAFTA Nominations|archive-date=11 February 2009|access-date=17 May 2023}}

Expedition Borneo was nominated for an Emmy in the US.

Lost Land of the Volcano won the 2012 Wildscreen award for best popular broadcast.{{Cite web|url=http://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/2607/award-winner-lost-land-of-the-volcano/|title=Calendar|website=Watershed.co.uk|access-date=17 May 2023|archive-date=19 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219061757/http://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/2607/award-winner-lost-land-of-the-volcano|url-status=dead}}

In 2012, Blue Peter awarded him a Gold Badge, their highest honour.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/clips/p00v5kgj] {{Dead link|date=September 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

In 2012, he was awarded an honorary PhD from the University of Exeter.{{cite web|url=http://www.exeter.ac.uk/honorarygraduates/2012/honorarygraduates/ceremony7/|title=Steve Backshall - Honorary Graduates - University of Exeter|author=Debbie Robinson|website=Exeter.ac.uk}}

In 2012, he was awarded the Animal Carer Badge in the Scout Birthday Badge Awards.{{cite web | url=http://members.scouts.org.uk/newsandviews/module/31/664/birthday-badge-2012-winners | title=Scouts|website=Members.scouts.org.uk }}

In 2017, Backshall and Glover were awarded Charity fundraisers of the year, after raising £360,000 for the World Land Trust. They also won the mixed category of the celebrated Devizes to Westminster kayak race.{{cite web | url=https://www.worldlandtrust.org/news/2017/09/steve-and-helen-backshall-win-celebrity-charity-champion-award/ | title=Steve and Helen Backshall win Celebrity Charity Champion award|website=Worldlandtrust.org | date=22 September 2017 }}

In 2019, the World Land Trust named a species of Osornophryne after him: Osornophyrne backshalli (Backshall’s plump toad).{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/SteveBackshall/status/1205956568266739720 | title=Steve Backshall on X | website=x.com}}

Backshall was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to charity and wildlife conservation.{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N15|date=28 December 2019}}

In 2020, he was awarded the Scientific Exploration Society Explorer of the Year Award.{{cite web | url=https://www.ses-explore.org/ses-honorary-awards-winners-2020 | title=Ses Honorary Awards Winners 2020|website=Ses-explore.org}}

In July 2023, Backshall received an honorary degree from Bangor University; where he is also an honorary lecturer.{{cite web | url=https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/2023-07-03-steve-backshall-pauline-cutting-dafydd-iwan-among-public-figures-to-be-honoured-by | title=Bangor University will award honorary degrees this summer to 11 individuals from the worlds of science, law, sport, the arts and popular culture for their contribution to public life.|website=bangor.ac.uk/news}}

{{BLP sources section|date=September 2014}}

• President (one of nine) - Better Planet Education.{{cite web |title=Our Team / The Trust's Presidents |url=https://betterplaneteducation.org.uk/team#Presidents |access-date=16 September 2024 |website=Better Planet Education}}
• President - Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire The Wildlife Trusts
• Vice-President - Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust
• Patron - World Land Trust
• Patron - Bite-Back (shark and marine conservation){{cite web|url=http://www.bite-back.com/steve-backshall-becomes-bite-back-patron/|title=Steve Backshall becomes Bite-Back patron|website=Bite-back.com|access-date=1 October 2016}}
• Patron - Exotic Pet Refuge
• Patron - Longridge UK
• Patron - Manta trust
• Patron - Shark trust
• Ambassador - The Scout Association and for the 'Cubs 100' events celebrating 100 years of Cub Scouting

1998–2003

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• Earthpulse - National Geographic Channel
• Game For It - National Geographic Channel
• The Toughest Race - National Geographic Channel
• Tracking the Canyon - National Geographic Channel
• Boot Camp - National Geographic Channel
• SOS: Save Our Seas - National Geographic Channel
• The Holiday Programme - National Geographic Channel
• Dive the World - National Geographic Channel
• Primary Geography - National Geographic Channel
• Adventure Diaries India - National Geographic Channel
• Adventure Diaries - National Geographic Channel
• Springwatch Trackers – BBC Two
• Inside Out
• Expedition Borneo
• The Really Wild Show
• Inside - King Cobra

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2008

• Lost Land of the Jaguar
• The One Show - Natural
• Britain’s Lost World
• Outdoor Britain Extreme Caving
• Spring Watch Trackers
• Secret Wilderness Japan
• Expedition Alaska
• Venom Hunter
• Inside Out

2009

• Deadly 60
• Lost Land of the Volcano

2010

• Deadly 60 II
• Natural Born Hunters
• Lost Land of the Tiger
• Live And Deadly

2011

• Deadly 360
• Live And Deadly
• Serious Explorers: Raleigh

2012

• Deadly 60 III

2013

• Deadly Pole to Pole
• Super Giant Animals
• Swimming with Monsters

2014

• Deadly on a Mission: Pole to Pole
• Personal Expedition: Mount Asgard
• Strictly Come Dancing

2015

• Big Blue Live
• Backshall's Deadly Adventures

2016

• Fierce
• Steve Backshall's Extreme Mountain Challenge

2017

• Down the Mighty River with Steve Backshall
• Japan's Northern Wilderness
• Meet the Hedgehogs
• Wild Alaska Live
• Shark Bites

2018

• Steve Backshall Vs The Monster Mountain
• Springwatch
• Deadly Dinosaurs

2019

• Blue Planet Live
• Undiscovered Worlds with Steve Backshall
• Saving Britain's Hedgehogs
• Expedition with Steve Backshall
• Animals After Dark

2020

• Deadly 60 IV
• Blue Planet Revisited
• Springwatch
• DIY Deadly

2021

• Celebrity Mastermind{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000tyft|title=Celebrity Mastermind|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=30 March 2021}}
• Our Wild Adventures{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000w0pq|title=Our Wild Adventures|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=17 May 2021}}
• Expedition with Steve Backshall II
• Shark with Steve Backshall{{cite web|url=https://www.sky.com/watch/shark-with-steve-backshall|title=Shark with Steve Backshall|website=Sky.com|access-date=22 March 2021}}

2022

• Our Changing Planet{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0016t0g|title=Our Changing Planet|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=19 April 2022}}
• Deadly Predators{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2021/bbc-studios-natural-history-unit-announces-filming-has-started-on-deadly-predators|title=BC Studios Natural History Unit announces filming has started on Deadly Predators|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=15 October 2021}}

2023

• Steve and Aneeshwar Go Wild{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/steve-backshall-cbeebies-steve-and-aneeshwar-go-wild|title=Steve Backshall embarks on a new adventure with CBeebies in Steve and Aneeshwar Go Wild|website=bbc.co.uk/mediacentre|access-date=11 August 2022}}
• Deadly Mission Shark{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/steve-backshall-new-series-deadly-mission-shark|title=Steve Backshall deep dives into shark conservation in new CBBC series Deadly Mission Shark|website=bbc.co.uk/mediacentre|access-date=3 September 2023}}
• Whale With Steve Backshall{{cite web|url=https://www.sky.com/watch/title/programme/c6a3185d-f7ec-4ca5-8df5-dc561a58320f/whale-with-steve-backshall-first-look-c6a3185d-f7ec-4|title=Whale With Steve Backshall First Look|website=sky.com|access-date=23 October 2023}}

2024

• Taskmaster's New Year Treat
• Killer Crocs with Steve Backshall{{cite web|url=https://www.channel5.com/show/killer-crocs-with-steve-backshall|title=Killer Crocs with Steve Backshall|website=radiotimes.com|accessdate=28 February 2024}}
• Monsters of the Deep: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-8l9fng/monsters-of-the-deep-20000-leagues-under-the-sea-season-1/?episode=b-pquy7j|title=Monsters of the Deep: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea|website=radiotimes.com|accessdate=29 December 2024}}

2025

• Ice Age: Apocalypse{{cite web|url=https://www.channel5.com/show/ice-age-apocalypse/season-1/episode-1|title=Ice Age: Apocalypse|website=channel5.com|accessdate=9 January 2025}}
• The Secret Life of Bees{{cite web|url=https://www.viacomcbs-mediahub.co.uk/press-releases/channel-5-gets-busy-with-the-secret-life-of-bees-(wt)|title=Channel 5 Gets Busy With The Secret Life of Bees|website=viacomcbs-mediahub.co.uk|date=13 June 2024|accessdate=27 August 2024}}

TBA

• Hippo Watch {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/paramount-channel-5-orders-steve-backshall-hippo-crocodile-series-1235658616/|title=aramount's Channel 5 is headed to South Africa in search of hippos and crocodiles|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=10 December 2023 |access-date=29 February 2024}}

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In 2015, Backshall and Olympic champion rower Helen Glover announced their engagement.{{cite tweet|number=644168279813193728|user=SteveBackshall|title=Sunset in the Namib desert, I asked the most beautiful girl in the world to marry me & she said yes! @Helenglovergb |date=16 September 2015}} The couple married at Prussia Cove, Cornwall, on 10 September 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/12/helen-glover-and-steve-backshall-marry-in-spectacular-coastal-ce/|title=Helen Glover and Steve Backshall marry in spectacular coastal ceremony|newspaper=The Telegraph}}

In March 2018, it was announced that Backshall and Glover were expecting twins.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-43389594|title=Team GB rowing star Helen Glover pregnant with twins|work=BBC News|date=2018-03-13|access-date=2018-03-13}} In April, Glover stated that one of the twins had died, but that she and Backshall were "hopeful for the remaining baby to arrive this summer".{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-43705409 |title=Olympic rower Helen Glover loses unborn twin |publisher=BBC |date=9 April 2018 |access-date=9 April 2018}}

On 24 July 2018, the couple announced the birth of their baby boy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-44945936|title=Rower Helen Glover gives birth to boy|date=2018-07-24|access-date=2019-11-12|language=en-GB}} This was followed on 20 January 2020 by the birth of their twins. All their children's names have Cornish connections, as Glover was born in Cornwall.

Backshall is fluent in Japanese, Indonesian and Spanish.{{Cite web|title=INTERVIEW: TV adventurer Steve Backshall on travel, danger and why he loves Dorset|date=15 August 2015 |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/interview-tv-adventurer-steve-backshall-45588}} In 2020, Backshall began learning Welsh and took part in the second season of the S4C programme Iaith ar Daith ({{Translation|Language on Tour}}), in which he was mentored by fellow presenter Iolo Williams.{{cite news |last1=Backshall |first1=Steve |title=Steve Backshall: Why I'm learning Welsh |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/55260669 |website=BBC Cymru Fyw |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=4 May 2023}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110512025310/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/wild/rws/steve/ Biography]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110908001147/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/wild/rws/ The Really Wild Show]
• {{IMDb name|1584127}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110903164407/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/livendeadly/ Steve Backshall on BBC's Live'n'Deadly show]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backshall, Steve}}

Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Canterbury Christ Church University

Category:Alumni of the University of Exeter

Category:English naturalists

Category:English television presenters

Category:English travel writers

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Multilingual writers

Category:People from Bagshot