Inside Russell Brand’s friendship with Bear Grylls
It is perhaps the unlikeliest of friendships, which was formed along the jagged coast of the Hebrides.
Russell Brand‘s bond with Bear Grylls began when the scandal-hit comic appeared on the former SAS soldier’s Apple TV+ series Running Wild last August.
As the pair sat beside a crackling fire dressed in their Scottish attire wearing no underwear, Grylls lay on the grass and listened intently as Brand opened up about how his addictions could have killed him.
It was during this heart-to-heart that Brand, 48, touched upon his faith and how he had felt a disconnection from a ‘higher purpose or God’.
Fast forward nine months, former Buddhist Brand, who lives in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, is following a different path with the help of his new pal.
Grylls, 49, stood in the Thames next to Brand and his ‘mate Joe’ as the comic was plunged into the dirty waters during his baptism ceremony.
Russell Brand ‘s bond with Bear Grylls began when the scandal-hit comic appeared on the former SAS soldier’s Apple TV+ series Running Wild last August
Brand was christened ‘at home and in the River Thames’ after converting to Christianity
Grylls told the Daily Mail: ‘Faith and spiritual moments in our lives are really personal, but it is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above.
‘Friendships when we go through tough times are worth so much.’
The revelation by Brand that the TV survivalist was beside him as he was ‘reborn in Christ’s name’ has surprised many.
Some Christians are sceptical about Brand’s motivation behind his turn to the faith who have seen it as a publicity stunt. Others have welcomed him in with open arms.
Brand has been unabashed about his journey to Christianity, having documented it to his four million followers on his Instagram page.
In March he said: ‘I’ve been going to church, a church where they do Alpha courses.’
Alpha courses are free and are an evangelical introduction to Christianity that is said to have recruited 29 million to the faith.
It was created by the Anglican priest Nicky Gumbel, of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), just across the road from Harrods in London‘s Knightsbridge.
Its poster boy? Grylls.
He is one of Britain’s most prominent Christians and appeared in marketing material for the course. He attends HTB a few times a year, reported The Times, where he meets up with Gumbel for lunch.
Grylls has appeared in marketing material for the Alpha course – an evangelical introduction to Christianity
It was created by the Anglican priest Nicky Gumbel (pictured), of Holy Trinity Brompton, just across the road from Harrods in London’s Knightsbridge
Some of the Alpha talks are played out on HTB’s YouTube channel with the front of the church becoming a stage, with a giant lit up question mark sitting toppled on the floor
Grylls, 49, stood in the Thames next to Brand and his ‘mate Joe’ as the comic was plunged into the dirty waters during his baptism ceremony (Pictured here during a Running Wild episode)
As the pair sat beside a crackling fire dressed in their Scottish attire wearing no underwear, Grylls lay on the grass and intently listened as Brand opened up about how his addictions could have killed him
In the polished promotional video titled ‘My Greatest Adventure’, the survival expert stares down the lens as his voice is heard over the backdrop of calming piano music.
‘What does it take to live a life of adventure?’ he asks. ‘The truth is, the first step is always the hardest. That’s the one that takes the most courage.
‘But I’ve learned not to run from that fear, and just do it.’
Looking pensive, Grylls talks about his ‘up and down relationship’ with his faith that has had ‘struggles and doubts’.
‘But it’s so often brought light to a dark path,’ he goes on. ‘Warmth to a cold mountain and strength to a failing body.’
Some of the Alpha talks are played out on HTB’s YouTube channel with the front of the church becoming a stage, with a giant lit up question mark sitting toppled on the floor.
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby are among those to have been on an Alpha course.
Although free to attend, people can buy £12.99 water bottles, £14.99 t-shirts and £39.99 hoodies from Alpha’s online gift shop.
Also available at a discounted price of £23.99 is Gumbel’s 1,973 page tome A Bible In One Year which he wrote with his wife, Pippa.
It is marketed as a ‘daily Bible reading programme which makes reading through the whole Bible easier than ever’ taking ‘readers through the entirety of Scripture in a year’.
The River Thames and All Saints Church in the background in Marlow, Buckinghamshire where Brand lives. No church in the area has admitted carrying out the baptism
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell (centre), former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud (left), and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (right) are among those to have been on an Alpha course
Grylls himself gave his own view of Jesus in an article for GQ magazine in 2017, almost presenting him as a raver.
‘I meet so many people who don’t want “religion” as such,’ he said.
‘I get it. I feel the same. And, in fact, so did Jesus, the heart of all Christian faith. Faith and religion are not the same thing.
‘The Jesus I read about in the Bible was fun, free and wild. He loved a party and he always hung out with the non-religious folk. The only people he ever got angry with were the overly religious types.’
Brand described his baptism as an ‘incredible profound experience’ and that ‘something occurred in the process of baptism that was incredible, overwhelming’.
He told his followers that he felt ‘nourished’ and transitioned after ‘taking the plunge’.
He said: ‘Now of course even though it has been less than 24 hours in the interim period I’ve already felt like irritation: I’ve got three children, I’ve got a job, I’ve got challenges, I still live in the world. But I feel as though some new resource within me has switched on.’
Despite the pair now sharing the same faith, unlike outspoken vegan Brand, Grylls turned his back on a plant-based diet last year.
He said last May he felt ’embarrassed’ that he used to promote veganism — and now shuns vegetables completely.
The iconic adventurer and TV presenter claimed he’s ‘never felt stronger’ and that his skin and gut have ‘never been better’ after binning a plant-based diet.
Inspired by how our ancestors survived for millennia, Grylls eats red meat, blood, bone marrow, as well as salted butter, eggs, fruit and honey.
As well as veg, he avoids processed foods, bread and pasta.
Grylls, who is Chief Scout, was invited to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth and also attended King Charles’s Coronation.
He has appeared at several events with the Princess of Wales, who is joint president of the Scout Association.
He has also spoken of his environmental work with the Prince of Wales. ‘Prince William and myself are very closely involved with a conservation society,’ he explained in 2022.
‘And I know that is something that is really close to Prince George’s heart as well, he loves all of that.’
Grylls recalled being introduced to Prince George by Catherine’s mother, Carole Middleton, while taking part in Prince William and Catherine’s charity sailing regatta on the Isle of Wight, where he said they ate ‘live ants together’.
