Meet the Author: Ben Fogle (Plus Giveaway!)
Written by Nikki-ann on Tuesday, 13 December , 2011 at 6:35 pm
Having read, reviewed and thoroughly enjoyed Ben Fogle’s autobiography, The Accidental Adventurer (read my review), I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to interview the man himself. So without further ado, I’d like to welcome Mr Ben Fogle!
Hello Ben and welcome to the blog. I’m not great with introductions so I’ll jump straight in…
While you’re The Accidental Adventurer, I’m very much an armchair adventurer (in that I love to watch your adventure programmes, as well as others, but having passed the age of 30 I’ve yet to get up and do anything anywhere near as exciting). What advice would you give to an armchair adventurer thinking about giving it a go?
I think the best advice is to plan thoroughly, do your research, then plan again. There’s always the unexpected of course, as I know, but you can never be over-prepared.
I doubt I’d have counted as a worthy volunteer, but I’d have loved to have taken part in something like the TV series Extreme Dreams. I long to go on trips like those, but think my fears stop me. Would you consider doing a TV series like that again or is it too much of a responsibility?
I loved making Extreme Dreams, and met some amazing people. Of course it’s a big responsibility, but we made sure that there was always support on hand. I’ve got two young children of my own now, so my responsibilities have changed a lot too. I’m always looking for new challenges though!
What has been your favourite adventure?
That’s difficult to say, but often it’s the most recent one. I’ve just returned from swimming with crocodiles, which was very scary. It was for a TV series to be aired soon. I still like pushing myself to the limits.
Is there anywhere you’d like to go/explore that you haven’t yet had the chance to?
I’d like to go to Madagascar. It sounds amazing.
Is there anything you regret doing or turning down the opportunity for?
I don’t regret it, because I have family responsibilities now, and that makes you think much more seriously about your own mortality, but recently I decided to pull out of diving with sharks for my new TV series. Just too dangerous, in the end.
You’re the new face for the Typhoo tea adverts (nicely done, by the way)… Is acting something you’d like to do more of?
Haha! thank you. Well, it’s not really my thing. I liked what Typhoo were offering, it sounded like a fun thing to do (and it was) but I’m not desperate to pursue an acting career, like my mother.
Apart from with a nice cup of Typhoo tea, how do you relax?
Playing with the children, walking the dogs, running.
I hear you’re currently very busy filming A Year of Adventures, can you tell us more about that? Being from Mid Wales, I’d especially like to hear what kind of adventure you were filming here!
It’s based on A Lonely Planet book of the same name and sees me travelling the globe in the pursuit of some pretty wild challenges – swimming from Alcatraz (no prisoner ever escaped the choppy waters!); diving under glaciers in Iceland, and climbing the Dolomites – but you’ll have to watch to see the rest!
So, what’s next on the horizon for you?
There are plans for more travel next year, but for now I’m looking forward to spending Christmas at home with the family and having a little break!
Thanks for your questions, Nikki – Ben.
I’d like to thank both Ben Fogle and Alison at Transworld Publishers for this wonderful opportunity. It’s not often you get to interview a national treasure!
The Accidental Adventurer (My Wilderness Years) by Ben Fogle is out now. You can buy a copy from The Book Depository or you can enter my giveaway below to win a copy!
Giveaway (CLOSED)
To be in with a chance of winning a copy of The Accidental Adventurer by Ben Fogle, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post answering the following question:
- What kind of adventure would you like to go on?
The giveaway is international, so you are eligible as long as The Book Depository deliver to your country. The closing date for entries is 5pm (GMT) on Saturday, 17th December 2011 and the winner will be contacted shortly after.
Comments (24)
Category: Books,Giveaway,Guest Posts,Meet The Author
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Comment by Jo
Made Tuesday, 13 of December , 2011 at 7:50 pm
Great to hear from the author!
Me I would like to go back in time and have an adventure just like the Famous Five did or perhaps The Secret Seven or even Fatty and the gang in Five Find Outers. That would be enough adventure for me and then coming back for lashings of lemonade and cake after it was all over and I had caught the culprit!
Comment by Lady Fi
Made Wednesday, 14 of December , 2011 at 4:35 am
Sounds like a great book to read! I love travelling, but perhaps don’t need to swim with crocodiles… although I was chased by one on a beach in Brazil once…
Comment by Yvonne
Made Wednesday, 14 of December , 2011 at 5:32 am
Hi Nikki,
We also had a close encounter with a crocodile once, this time in Florida, USA, so I don’t really have any aspirations to have more adventures quite like that, thanks all the same!
I wish that I had been brave enough to travel a little further afield than I have done, but I’m afraid that I just like my creature comforts too much for that!
Getting an interview like that was a great coup, how did you come by the opportunity?
Great job.
Comment by Heidi
Made Wednesday, 14 of December , 2011 at 5:36 am
Where do I begin? I love adventure and traveling. So awesome! What I want to do next tho is probably NOLS with a 4 week trek through the Rockies during the winter time. Sounds like a great book and loved the interview.
Comment by Petty Witter
Made Wednesday, 14 of December , 2011 at 3:10 pm
Having liked Ben ever since Castaway, I really enjoyed this post, fascinating reading and very interesting, thank you.
So, my choice of adventure? I’d really like to discover an as yet unknown Egyptian pyramid. Ben could even come with me as my very own Indiana Jones.
Comment by Mary Preston
Made Thursday, 15 of December , 2011 at 8:10 am
I’m not very adventurous, but I have always wanted to go to the Antarctic. Maybe just to see the HAPPY FEET penguins.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Comment by Nina Crozier
Made Thursday, 15 of December , 2011 at 12:18 pm
I’ve wanted to go to Venezuela for several years now to visit Angel Falls after watching a TV program on it.
Comment by Carol Thompson
Made Thursday, 15 of December , 2011 at 3:19 pm
Thanks for the giveaway and for opening it to worldwide entries.
Much appreciated.
I have been swimming with dolphins (mask and snorkel)
and swimming with sharks (scuba)
but what I would love to try, only it is expensive and far away, is swimming with Orcas (killer whales). The only place you can do that is in Norway ! What an adventure that would be.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
Comment by Nell Westwood
Made Thursday, 15 of December , 2011 at 6:44 pm
Probably not very adventurous by most standards but I’d love to visit Lake Titicaca. I’ve read about the floating islands, the huge submerged temple,the lake islands with their Inca ruins and even the astonishing giant frogs! And it is so beautiful. One day ….
Comment by Danny Spencer
Made Thursday, 15 of December , 2011 at 8:15 pm
My ultimate adventure is still to do an African safari that would include a visit to the Masai Mara, a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro and to Victoria Falls. Then, I would venture further south to visit Kruger National Park. I think seeing animals in their natural environment, as opposeed to zoos, is one of the most majestic sights anyone could dream of!
Comment by Maxine
Made Thursday, 15 of December , 2011 at 8:53 pm
I’d love to tour south America, especially Peru to see the Inca monuments. It’s been an ambition of mine since I was a teenager (but I still haven’t got round to it!)
Comment by Andrew Taylor
Made Friday, 16 of December , 2011 at 1:38 am
Having been wowed by ‘Frozen Planet’ I would love to experience some of the wonders of the Arctic & Antarctic myself.
Comment by jay walsh
Made Friday, 16 of December , 2011 at 2:59 am
an adventure on the orkney isle of Rousay would suit my young family and i. this small low inhabited island would really tesy us against the elements-wind-and reward us with its nature.
Comment by ahle
Made Friday, 16 of December , 2011 at 6:21 am
I’m not very adventurous either, but I´d love to visit Alaska. Great giveaway!
Comment by Julie Poultney
Made Friday, 16 of December , 2011 at 8:02 am
Having spent a very short time in the Smokey Mountains, i would love to revisit but this time for a longer period and spend time exploring the Appalchain trail.Being at one with nature and my camera…heaven
Comment by Bernie
Made Friday, 16 of December , 2011 at 9:23 am
I would love to dive and rediscover Atlantis -I know – not realistic but still dream about the Man from Altlanta that I watched as a child!!
Comment by Mark Doherty
Made Friday, 16 of December , 2011 at 2:04 pm
Cycling round China would tick a few boxes.
Comment by June Munday
Made Friday, 16 of December , 2011 at 5:35 pm
I would love to go to The Galapagos Islands, maybe not adventurous to some but it would be a very big adventure for me, seeing those unique animals and birds, magic.
Comment by Alison
Made Friday, 16 of December , 2011 at 5:54 pm
Id love to do a round the world trip
Comment by Hazel Wright
Made Friday, 16 of December , 2011 at 6:08 pm
I’d like to get a van and spend the summer touring France and maybe the rest of Europe, but camping at naturist sites as I love the freedom!
Comment by jane steels
Made Friday, 16 of December , 2011 at 6:31 pm
I’d love to go and explore the rain forest, I find any programs on it very fascinating and would love make my own trail through there and take millions of pictures of life.
Comment by tiiti66
Made Saturday, 17 of December , 2011 at 5:35 am
I´d love to spend a whole summer travelling around Europe with train, quite mild, uh?
Comment by Iren Baghdasarian
Made Saturday, 17 of December , 2011 at 9:00 am
Well, I’m not an exreme adventure type person, so if I had a chance I would love to go to South America, to expore Mayan culture, to see ruins in Teotihuacan, in Palenque, to communicate with descendants Mayan people… It’s definitely my dream tour
Comment by Phillippa Russell
Made Saturday, 17 of December , 2011 at 1:34 pm
My perfect adventure would be touring New Zealand – learning about the delicate nature balance of the variety of wildlife and walking on glaciers
