Bear Grylls: How close have you come to death?

How close have you come to death?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A recurring Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Bear Grylls said elsewhere, not written here

Where do I begin? There have been a lot.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 January 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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Jonnie Peacock British athlete

When I was five and the doctors walked in and said to my mum: “I am not sure if you will be taking him home.”

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 January 2018 source ↗

Mark Steel

When I had cancer. I was having a shave and thought: “Are you meant to have a big hard lump on one side of your neck?”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 February 2025 source ↗

Fiona Allen

I think I had a close shave with the taxi driver John Worboys. I was in Soho and going back to Chiswick where I lived, and I got a black cab. This guy wouldn’t stop talking and he offered me champagne, and I said: “I don’t like champagne.” It went a bit quiet and I thought I’d offended him. Then I remember going: “Hang on a minute, you shouldn’t be drinking champagne if you’re driving.” And he said: “I’ve just won the lottery and I’m finished after this.” I had a lucky escape.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 August 2026 source ↗

Martin Clunes English actor