Over the years, viewers have seen 52-year-old Simon Reeve travel to various countries across the world as he’s found himself in unusual and bizarre situations.
From being arrested by the KGB, chased by cheetahs and hunting with the San Bushmen of the Kalahari, Simon’s life hasn’t been dull.
This month, he’s embracing a new journey as he’s heading to Scandinavia for a new BBC series. When asked what people can expect to see, Simon commented: “Viewers can expect real journeys, in every sense! It’s not just about ticking off famous landmarks, though we certainly visit some breathtakingly beautiful places. This series is about diving deep into what makes Scandinavia tick.
“Expect to see the stunning, almost otherworldly landscapes – from the icy expanses of Svalbard and Lapland, where reindeer roam, to the dramatic fjords of Norway that just take your breath away, and the lush forests of Sweden.”
As his new series kicks off, we’re taking a look into the explorer’s life.
Dark thoughts
Simon has spoken in the past about his struggle with depression and panic attacks growing up. When he was 14, Simon suffered from behavioural problems and received counselling.
The BBC star finished school with one GCSE and was on income support, admitting he had no ambition during this period. When he was 17, Simon’s mental health hit an all-time low when he considered taking his own life.
Speaking to The Standard, he said: “I can still project myself back into those moments and that fear. It was a very, very life-threatening time for me.”
However, he decided to take a trip to Glencoe and climb a mountain, totally unprepared. He told The Sun: “I took a big risk, a stupid risk, but I honestly don’t think I’d be here now if I hadn’t done that.”
When he climbed down, Simon turned his life around and returned to London, where he got a job as a postboy for The Sunday Times.
Fertility struggles
Simon and his wife Anya share a son together called Jake, however, it wasn’t an easy path to conceiving their son. One year after they tied the knot, the pair decided to start trying for a baby and struggled to fall pregnant for months.
After trying for a year and a half, the pair decided to seek medical advice and turned to fertility experts. When Anya’s results came back all clear, Simone confessed that the spotlight had turned to him.
He said in the Daily Mail: “I heard the worst news I could have imagined.” Simon was told he was ‘basically infertile’. The explorer added: “I was told there was no chance that I could have my own baby. My sperm were not viable. They were bloody useless.”
However, he managed to change his fertility around by overhauling his unhealthy diet and embarking on intense British Military Fitness classes. After a few months, Simon’s results showed that his sperm was completely viable.
The couple decided to do IVF and Anya conceived on their first round with their son Jake being born in 2011.
Teenage crime
Simon has detailed his teenage antics in the past, admitting he used to take part in petty vandalism, riding stolen cars and starting fires from the petrol stolen from vehicles.
He confessed: “I remember unscrewing the bottom of a CCTV camera at Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, packing an explosive device inside and then watching it blow up before racing off, laughing. It was a stupid, destructive thrill.”
Recalling the incident, Simon shared a a policeman came looking for them all minutes after he lit a firework at the back of a shopping centre.
Kicking it away, the firework hit the man in the leg as Simon detailed him going down, screaming something he still feels guilty about.
When he was 13, Simon revealed he would go into school with a huge Rambo knife and would get into fights with the local kids. His behaviour got so bad he once got a replica pistol that fired blanks.
He commented: “I was never a gang member or a really bad lad. The truth is, I was a silly little boy, struggling with growing up, forced to wear glasses after I was hit in the eye with a brick during a fight. I was gangly and awkward. Things were difficult at home.”
Scandinavia with Simon Reeve is set to premiere on BBC Two on May 18 at 9pm.
