Running Wild’s Bear Grylls Became Channing Tatum’s Mentor During Filming

On Running Wild with Bear Grylls, actor Channing Tatum was mentored by outdoorsman and host of the show Bear Grylls. The British former SAS serviceman returns to the small screen with his hit outdoor survival series.

Grylls has tested the mettle of Hollywood’s elite for the past five seasons of Running Wild with Bear Grylls. The premise centers around him accompanying these celebrities to parts unknown, then exploring the natural terrain of each location, as if it were an Outward Bound excursion. During the experience, Grylls interviews the star, to find out what makes them tick, and also to shed light on some of their strengths and weaknesses. To date, he’s had journalist Tamron Hall, actress Keri Russell, Jake Gyllenhaal, and even former President Barack Obama along for these trips. However, Tatum is a star with a special distinction on the show.

Man vs. Wild’s Grylls spoke to Us Weekly about his recent episode of adventuring with Tatum, he revealed that since he’s the first celeb to return, he wanted to really push him. Grylls said, “Channing came on Running Wild in season 1, so he’s the first guest who’s come back for a second episode, and I said to him, ‘You’re no longer a rookie. I’m not going to just take you along on a journey. I really want to train you now.” Grylls continued, “I want to empower you with skills that you can teach [your daughter], and you can take your daughter away on some expedition-type things.’ He was really up for that.” Watch Tatum and Grylls take on the wild in the clip below:

Funny enough, that’s exactly how Bear Grylls became Bear Grylls. He spoke about how he acquired his love of the outdoors from his own father. It was that relationship that made him want to enter the military as a young man and become the cultural icon that he is today. As for Tatum, he’ll have a lot of time to spend with his daughter Everly. The Magic Mike star is recently divorced. His ex-wife Jenna Dewan is expecting a child with Broadway actor and Shameless alum Steve Kazee. Tatum taking the time to bond with his daughter and teaching her practical survival skills could positively alter the trajectory of her life. Perhaps Tatum could even bring along his current love interest, British singer Jessie J to make it a family affair.

The truly groundbreaking thing about Running Wild with Bear Grylls is watching the glamour and facade of Hollywood’s finest fall by the wayside. Under Grylls’ tutelage, these celebrities go into survival mode, pushing their minds and bodies to the limit. Tatum, like Grylls, has a strong on-camera persona. The actor is not only a dashing leading man, but is tough to boot. Receiving encouragement from a self-sufficient survivalist like Grylls during a heavy time of transition in his personal life was probably worth its weight in gold for Tatum. It’s also pretty cool that Tatum has done the great outdoors with the famed adventurer not once, but twice. Eating bugs and drinking urine to stay alive may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if it provides catharsis for the Hollywood A-lister, more power to him.

Source: Us Weekly, Discovery

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