27 Facts About Steve Backshall

Stephen James Backshall was born on 21 April 1973 and is a British naturalist, explorer, presenter and writer, best known for BBC TV's Deadly.

Steve Backshall has worked for the National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel.

Steve Backshall has published a series of four novels for children called The Falcon Chronicles, three adult non-fiction works and numerous other children's non-fiction books.

Steve Backshall's parents worked for British Airways, and he was brought up in a smallholding in Bagshot surrounded by rescue animals.

Steve Backshall attended Collingwood College in Camberley and Brooklands College, Surrey in the sixth form.

In 1997, Steve 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.

Steve Backshall 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, Steve Backshall presented the expedition series Game For It and the environmental series EarthPulse.

Steve Backshall competed with fellow naturalist Nick Baker in a series of wildlife challenges.

Steve Backshall co-presented Springwatch Trackers with Kirsten O'Brien which was broadcast live from the Springwatch farm in Devon between 28 May and 15 June 2007.

Steve Backshall 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.

Steve Backshall was bitten by a shark but was saved by a chain-mail shark suit.

Steve Backshall filmed Ultimate Caving, BBC One 2008, with Kate Humble, Secret Wilderness Japan, BBC Two 2008, and presented Nature Reports for the BBC's The One Show.

Steve Backshall was a contestant on the twelfth series of Strictly Come Dancing from September 2014 on BBC One.

Steve Backshall was seen diving live with great hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, bull sharks and reef sharks from the shark sanctuary of Bimini.

In Bhutan on the first descent of the Chamkhar Chhu river, Steve Backshall was caught in a rapid for five minutes and nearly drowned.

Steve Backshall's life was saved by rescue kayaker Sal Montgomery.

Steve Backshall began working as a writer for publisher Rough Guides, and is an author on their Indonesia guide.

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

Steve Backshall 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.

Steve Backshall has a black belt in judo, attained after a year living in Japan studying the martial art.

Steve Backshall 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.

Steve Backshall has competed in numerous triathlons, adventure races and fell running events.

Steve Backshall required twelve operations and several years of rehab to get back to fitness.

In 2011, Steve Backshall won two BAFTAs; best Children's Television Presenter, and Best Factual series.

Steve Backshall was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to charity and wildlife conservation.

In July 2023, Steve Backshall received an honorary degree from Bangor University; where he is an honorary lecturer.