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Benedict Allen, Author, explorer, TV presenter-filmmaker Benedict Allen, author, explorer, TV presenter-filmmaker and public speaker, is best known for his solo expeditions to remote corners of the globe, journeys depicted in his nine books - including two best sellers - TV and radio programmes and five BBC television series. One of Britain's most prominent explorers, Benedict made television history when he pioneered the filming of journeys without a film-crew, and, for the first time allowed millions of people around the world to witness the progress of a solo expedition through inhospitable terrain. However, according to a recent Radio Times cover feature 'television's most fearless man' is far more proud of having immersed himself, months at time, among indigenous, so called 'tribal' people. Few Westerners have lived so long at a time isolated and alone in so many different potentially hostile environments. In an age where travel to far and exotic places has never been easier or cheaper, Benedict Allen reminds us that being an explorer isn’t just a question of going where no one has gone before. To him, its more important to be open to the experiences that your travel subjects you to and, if you’re lucky, to learn from those experiences so that you can see yourself and the world around you with a new level of understanding and perhaps some wisdom. Hearing Benedict talk, it is impossible not to be charmed by this mild, self effacing man who has seen and done so much, yet who speaks with great modesty and a gentle, ironic humour that belies the many difficulties he has faced and the challenges he has overcome by sheer grit and mental toughness. Audiences are captivated by an irresistible mix of intrepid adventure story punctuated by Benedict’s honest and down to earth comment and observation about the peoples he has lived amongst, the landscapes he has traversed, the animals he has travelled with and, perhaps most beguilingly, the inner journey that has been his personal voyage of exploration for more than twenty years. Talks Benedict has been giving talks for over twenty years. All are superbly illustrated with high quality images. Changing World Few people today have lived so long isolated with so many indigenous people as explorer Benedict Allen. Through tales of his solo adventures to many remote and challenging areas of the world, he illustrates how remote peoples’ lives and environments are changing across the globe. In the Russian tundra, he saw how the Nenets (traditional reindeer herders) still live what looks to be a very traditional existence – wandering with their reindeer across the frozen tundra and living in teepee-like tents of fur. Yet now they find themselves sharing the tundra with oil company explorers. Pipes have been cut across the tundra, gas flares light up the skies, huge installations are being erected. To us it seems like a disaster - yet the Nenets see the oil developments as an opportunity to sell their meat, use mobile phones to guide themselves out of blizzards and gain better access to health care ... In the Amazon, Benedict has witnessed logging on a colossal scale, and in Borneo the orang-utan facing extinction. He uses his unique experiences of living isolated, many months at a time with indigenous, so-called “tribal” people, witnessing our changing world, and shares his experiences of their past, present and future. ' Into the Abyss What keeps an explorer going, step after step into a blizzard, when there seems to be no hope? What is it that a climber finds in himself to help him off a mountain after breaking both legs? Indeed, how do any of us find the will to get out of bed, in times of despair? No one is better placed to understand what makes a survivor than adventurer/explorer Benedict Allen ­who has been described as 'Britain's Most Fearless Man' and as 'a cat who has used up six of his nine lives. In this fascinating talk, Benedict reflects on these questions whilst drawing upon and describing, his own experiences as an adventurer.' Icedogs Explorer Benedict Allen shares his experiences (depicted in his BBC TV series) in some of the harshest environments on the planet - whether with reluctant camels in the Gobi desert or with dogs through Siberia in the worst winter for centuries when, despite frostbite and a diet of raw walrus, he won sufficient trust from his furry colleagues to risk travelling alone with them through the Arctic. Into the Crocodile Nest The rare and extraordinary experience of undergoing a secret ceremony in New Guinea to become "a man as strong as a crocodile." Life on the Edge Highlights of a career lived dangerously, from tragically having to eat his dog to survive in the Amazon, travelling with devoted huskies to crossing the Gobi desert with truculent camels. Amazon - The Hard Way A 7-month crossing of the whole Amazon Rain Forest with the help of the Matses Indians or Jaguar People (and being shot at by drug barons!). Mongolia An extraordinary 3000 mile journey by foot, horse and camel through a fascinating land, including a lone crossing of the Gobi with reluctant camels. Skeleton Coast A unique 1000 mile journey through the treacherous but captivating landscapes of Namibia with three camels featuring Top Camel Nelson who had never travelled anywhere before and didn't want to go! What others have said ... 'We had a most fantastic evening with Benedict, he is such a natural relaxed speaker, and did the whole presentation without notes. His command of the subject and his relationship with the dogs was tremendous. I always feel the success of any evening can be judged by the wealth of questions raised and this proved the case. The Chairman had difficulty drawing the evening to a close!' Tom Styche, Epsom, Ewell and District Literary Society Literary Society 'Thank you so much for your two wonderful lectures on Friday. They were superb and both the Upper Sixth and the Prep School have been full of enthusiasm for your inspirational talks. It was also so good of you to spend so much time chatting to pupils after the talks. We hope very much that we will be able to welcome you back next year'. Tim Owen, Deputy Director (Academic), Repton School Click here to see more testimonials for Benedict ...