Plot Synopsis

This spinoff of RUNNING WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS premiered on Monday, July 25, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic Channel. Titled RUNNING WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS: THE CHALLENGE, the new series features celebrity guests who are not only pushed physically and mentally -- like plunging into a frozen lake in the Canadian Rockies or foraging for food in the deserts of the Great Basin -- but Bear will be testing each on their survival skills. This time, they will be tested beyond other guests: after Bear teaches each of them a key set of skills, they will then have to master them on their own and deploy those skills at a high-intensity moment to earn their extraction from the wilderness. Season 1 episodes include:

"Natalie Portman in Southern Utah" (Premieres July 25, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bear takes Academy Award(R) winner Natalie Portman into the slot canyons of Southern Utah. Their adventure begins when Bear leaps from his helicopter onto Natalie's 4x4. They trek into the Escalante desert, where Bear teaches Natalie piton placements, rope system transfers and fire starting while descending various canyons. Natalie uses her new skills as they ascend a mountain and attempt to light a signal fire for extraction.

"Simu Liu in The Canadian Rockies" (Premieres August 1, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bear takes Marvel superhero Simu Liu to the Canadian Rockies. As the adventure begins, they must trigger an avalanche to clear a path to a ravine and find an old cabin or risk hypothermia as temperatures drop below -20. The next day, Bear sets the ultimate arctic challenge: Simu must strip down to plunge into a frozen lake and then navigate to a dogsled team to whisk them back to civilization.

"Ashton Kutcher in the Coastal Jungles of Costa Rica" (Premieres August 8, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Ashton Kutcher joins Bear to challenge the coastal jungles of Costa Rica. Their adventure begins with a helicopter jump into the Pacific Ocean. Once they swim ashore, they must canoe up a river to fish for their dinner, then descend a 300-foot cliff into the jungle. The next day, Bear sets up a commando crawl rope challenge. Ashton must use all the strength he can muster to cross a massive ravine.

"Florence Pugh in the Volcanic Rainforests of Costa Rica" (Premieres August 15, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Rappelling from a helicopter, Bear takes Florence Pugh to the volcanic rainforests of Costa Rica. Bear shows Florence how to traverse rapids, test river depth with a rope and rock, and avoid poisonous snakes and deep cliff edges. Crossing an alligator-infested swamp, they catch eel for dinner. On day two, Florence must test the depth of a waterfall pool before choosing to leap from a high cliff into a set of rapids below. Finally, they jump out of an airplane at 10,000 feet to their extraction.

"Anthony Anderson in The Sierra Nevada Mountains" (Premieres August 22, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Anthony Anderson joins Bear in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Tossing their backpacks from the helicopter, Bear challenges Anthony to survive with just a rope and compass. On the ground, Bear teaches Anthony navigation and knot-tying skills. On day two, Bear leaves Anthony to use his new skills to secure his climb up a sheer rock face. Anthony will dig deep to make it to their extraction point.

"Rob Riggle in the Great Basin Desert" (Premieres August 22, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bear puts Rob Riggle through survival tests in the Great Basin to prepare for Rob's latest movie role. They begin by rappelling from a helicopter to travel west, where Riggle learns the ropes and then faces an even bigger ropes challenge. Once on the canyon floor, Bear teaches Rob river crossing skills, foraging for food and building a rudimentary shelter. The next day, Rob must evade being spotted by Bear or face his fear of skydiving.
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The sophomore season of RUNNING WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS: THE CHALLENGE debuted on Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic Channel. This season, continuing to push superstars' comfort levels, Bear and his guests venture from the highest peaks of Scotland to unforgiving terrain in Wyoming for more ultimate, life-changing challenges and adventures. This season, guests will continue to be tested both physically and mentally beyond their limits - like Bradley Cooper spending a night hanging off the side of a cliff, Cynthia Erivo traversing a freezing waterfall, and Troy Kotsur battling raging rivers as Bear's first deaf guest. Bear teaches each celebrity a key set of survival skills they will then have to master on their own under a high-intensity moment to earn their extraction from the wilderness. Fears will be conquered, and limits will be tested. Season 2 episodes include:

"Bradly Cooper in the Wyoming Basin" (Premiered Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bradley Cooper joins Bear on an adventure through the rugged canyons of the Wyoming Basin. Bear teaches Bradley how to use a grappling hook gun, as well as key mountaineering rope skills, to traverse a series of towering ravines. The two spend the night hanging on the side of a cliff, and on day two, Bradley is faced with daunting challenges during a harsh winter snowstorm.

"Benedict Cumberbatch on the Isle of Skye" (Premiered Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bear Grylls takes prolific Marvel superstar and venerated actor Benedict Cumberbatch on an adventure across the Isle of Skye in Scotland. They descend massive sea cliffs and brave freezing waterfalls. Bear teaches Benedict unique survival skills and surprises Benedict by connecting him to a part of his past with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"Cynthia Erivo in the Brecon Beacons Mountains" (Premiered Sunday, July 23, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bear Grylls takes singer-actress Cynthia Erivo to the highest mountains in Wales, where Bear trained in the British Special Forces. Bear teaches Cynthia how to rappel into and navigate a labyrinth of caves before they traverse a frigid and thunderous waterfall. On day two, Cynthia uses the skills she learned on day one to embark on her own, find Bear, and make it to their extraction.

"Troy Kotsur in the Scottish Highlands" (Premiered Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bear takes his first deaf guest, Academy Award-winning actor Troy Kotsur, on an adventure in the Scottish Highlands. Bear and Troy must find a new way to communicate as they push themselves to the limits, traversing perilously steep mountains and raging rivers, but it's the silence that builds their strongest bond.

"Russell Brand in the Hebrides Islands" (Premiered Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bear Grylls takes actor, activist and author Russell Brand on an adventure down the jagged coast of a secluded Scottish isle in search of 16th-century castle ruins to shelter in. Along the way, Bear teaches the brash and bombastic Brand survival skills that dredge up a long-forgotten but highly charged fear he must overcome to reach his extraction.

"Rita Ora in the Valley of Fire" (Premiered Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bear Grylls takes singer-songwriter, actor and designer Rita Ora on an adventure in the Valley of Fire. The journey launches into high-octane action with the pair skydiving from 10,000 feet, plunging them into the desolate terrain. Bear teaches Rita how to navigate, find water, and rock climb, as he prepares her to earn her extraction on day two.

"Daveed Diggs in the Great Basin Desert" (Premiered Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bear Grylls takes actor, musician and "Hamilton" star Daveed Diggs on an adventure in the Great Basin Desert to teach him to track, climb and eat whatever the desert provides. On day two, Daveed must fly solo and put his skills to the test by using what he's learned to find Bear and earn his extraction.

"Tatiana Maslany in the Laramie Mountains" (Premiered Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic): Bear Grylls invites SHE-HULK and ORPHAN BLACK star Tatiana Maslany on a journey across Wyoming's Laramie Mountains. Tatiana admits that she's fearless on the screen, but she can't tap into that same bravery in the real world. So, Bear challenges Tatiana to conquer massive cliff rappels, menacingly icy cliffs, and a zero-degree cold shock to the body to help her overcome her fears.