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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Survival show faces 'fake' claim | Survival show faces 'fake' claim |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Channel 4 is to investigate a claim that it misled viewers in a survival series, in the latest allegation of reality being manipulated on a TV show. | Channel 4 is to investigate a claim that it misled viewers in a survival series, in the latest allegation of reality being manipulated on a TV show. |
| Born Survivor featured British adventurer Bear Grylls dealing with "perilous situations" in the wild. | Born Survivor featured British adventurer Bear Grylls dealing with "perilous situations" in the wild. |
| But a crew member told the Sunday Times some nights were spent in hotels. | But a crew member told the Sunday Times some nights were spent in hotels. |
| Channel 4 insisted Grylls was never billed as working entirely unaided, but promised to raise the matter with the production company that made the show. | Channel 4 insisted Grylls was never billed as working entirely unaided, but promised to raise the matter with the production company that made the show. |
| American survival consultant Mark Weinert, who was recruited by Diverse Productions, told the paper Grylls claimed to be stranded on a desert island on one occasion. | American survival consultant Mark Weinert, who was recruited by Diverse Productions, told the paper Grylls claimed to be stranded on a desert island on one occasion. |
| He often directly addresses the production team, including the cameraman, making it clear he is receiving an element of back-up Channel 4 statement However, he was actually in Hawaii and spent some of his time there in a motel, Mr Weinert alleged. | He often directly addresses the production team, including the cameraman, making it clear he is receiving an element of back-up Channel 4 statement However, he was actually in Hawaii and spent some of his time there in a motel, Mr Weinert alleged. |
| Another time, he added, Grylls was filmed building a raft by himself, whereas the crew had actually put it together and dismantled it beforehand, to ensure that it worked. | Another time, he added, Grylls was filmed building a raft by himself, whereas the crew had actually put it together and dismantled it beforehand, to ensure that it worked. |
| And in a further episode, supposedly "wild" horses rounded up by Grylls had come from a local trekking facility, he claimed. | And in a further episode, supposedly "wild" horses rounded up by Grylls had come from a local trekking facility, he claimed. |
| Further investigation | Further investigation |
| Channel 4 said in a statement that Born Survivor was "not an observational documentary series, but a 'how-to' guide to basic survival techniques in extreme environments". | Channel 4 said in a statement that Born Survivor was "not an observational documentary series, but a 'how-to' guide to basic survival techniques in extreme environments". |
| "The programme explicitly does not claim that presenter Bear Grylls' experience is one of unaided solo survival. | "The programme explicitly does not claim that presenter Bear Grylls' experience is one of unaided solo survival. |
| "For example, he often directly addresses the production team, including the cameraman, making it clear he is receiving an element of back-up." | "For example, he often directly addresses the production team, including the cameraman, making it clear he is receiving an element of back-up." |
| The broadcaster said Grylls carried out his own stunts and did place himself in perilous situations, "though he does so within clearly-observed health and safety guidelines required on productions of this kind". | The broadcaster said Grylls carried out his own stunts and did place himself in perilous situations, "though he does so within clearly-observed health and safety guidelines required on productions of this kind". |
| "However, we take any allegations of misleading our audiences seriously and will be looking into this further with Diverse over the next few days." | "However, we take any allegations of misleading our audiences seriously and will be looking into this further with Diverse over the next few days." |
| The series was originally made for the Discovery Channel in the US and was acquired for UK transmission by Channel 4. | The series was originally made for the Discovery Channel in the US and was acquired for UK transmission by Channel 4. |
| Diverse Productions declined to elaborate on Channel 4's statement, while Grylls's agent was unavailable for comment. |