Bear Grylls made a huge £6million profit from his TV work last year and will continue raking in cash despite coronavirus
BEAR Grylls’ TV production company made a staggering £6.1million profit last year, latest accounts show. The survival expert’s adrenaline-fuelled outdoor content generated a huge amount cash, and his financial success shows no signs of slowing down despite the coronavirus pandemic. The Natural Studios Productions Limited was formed last year as a fusion of Bear’s BGV […]
BEAR Grylls’ TV production company made a staggering £6.1million profit last year, latest accounts show.
The survival expert’s adrenaline-fuelled outdoor content generated a huge amount cash, and his financial success shows no signs of slowing down despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The Natural Studios Productions Limited was formed last year as a fusion of Bear’s BGV Media Limited and the Banijay Group – the world’s leading independent content producers.
Bear’s biggest hit of 2019 was his special episode of Man Vs Wild with Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi.
It saw the politician reflect on his life as he and Bear ventured into India’s Jim Corbett National Park.
The episode notched up a mighty 3.6billion online impressions and in turn a lot of cash.
It has spawned two follow up specials: one with Indian actor Rajinikanth, that aired in March, and another with Akshay Kumar, that aired last month.
Natural Studios turned over £8.3million and paid close to £1.5million in corporation tax, as well as a £5million interim dividend during a 14 month period ending December 31, 2019.
An auditor’s report found the company is likely to prosper over the next 12 months at a time the entertainment industry is grappling with the impacts of coronavirus.
The report reads: “The company’s performance surrounds the Bear Grylls brand and is dependent on the health of Bear Grylls and access to international travel , which directly impact the ability of the company to continue to develop, produce and deliver television productions to clients.
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“Contact with key customers has been maintained as to ensure production restart on lift of government restrictions to mitigate impact on delayed production schedules.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is not expected to have an impact on the balance sheet.”
In August Bear hosted the World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji on Amazon Prime.
The 10 episode series saw 66 teams navigate wild terrain without modern technology in a bid to win the $100,000 prize.
Bear’s year hasn’t been entirely smooth though. The seventh series of The Island with Bear Grylls has been postponed until 2021 because of the pandemic.