The day I fell asleep in the woods after a vodka bender and was nearly ripped apart and eaten by a huge, very aggressive brown bear

by

The first time Chris Tarrant was nearly killed by a bear he had a terrible hangover.

In a remote part of Russia, our storyteller was angling for salmon. The previous evening, they had some vodka, and the next day, they mentioned consuming vodka gelatin, which is similar to regular jelly but infused with pure Russian vodka. They seemed quite fond of it.

On that scorching day, Chris and his angling companions found themselves equipped with waders and bulky equipment. Despite being instructed to stay together, Chris chose to fall back slightly.

In a forested trail, I took a nap and dozed off. Upon waking, a massive Russian brown bear towered over me, seeming to ponder: “What’s this silly British creature doing? Should I eat him? Or should I seek the salmon?” Chris was petrified and remained motionless, but fortunately, the bear opted for the fish instead. He simply strolled away afterwards.

Later on, the guide resurfaced to alert Chris about a massive, hostile bear lurking nearby. A visibly shaken Chris admitted his fear.

As an over-the-moon fan, let me share this amusing incident. The guide, with a booming voice that echoed his frustration, exclaimed to me, “You’re as sharp as a marshmallow!” But here’s the kicker – I couldn’t help but chuckle at his words. You see, he was spot on. Since then, I’ve steered clear of that vodka jelly.

An extended account of this tale can be found in his forthcoming book titled “For The Love Of Bears,” which is derived from his adventures in Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia.

You can embark on such trips when you’ve amassed wealth from hosting popular radio and television shows, ranging from the chaotic children’s series Tiswas to the long-running Capital Radio breakfast show and the record-breaking quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, which he initially hosted, making it the most successful in British history.

Apart from being a clever investor in stocks and bonds, Chris has amassed considerable wealth. His divorce with Ingrid in 2007 resulted in a settlement estimated to be £12.5 million, implying he was worth at least double that amount then. At his highest point, it’s been reported he made £4 million annually. However, this friendly 78-year-old announced his retirement from television towards the end of last year, stating simply that he had grown tired of it.

Before delving deeper into that topic, let me share some insights from “For The Love Of Bears”. This captivating book not only showcases stunning images and calls for their preservation, but also presents chilling anecdotes and startling facts about the less cuddly side of these creatures. As Chris puts it, “They can end your life in a matter of seconds.” While such occurrences are rare, he emphasizes that it’s a gruesome way to meet one’s end.

The most terrifying story he has experienced took place in Norway while he and his film crew were on the water. “Goodness me!” he exclaimed, as an enormous polar bear appeared from a snowy slope. It was stunningly white, just as you’d expect a polar bear to be.

In a surprising turn of events, Chris found a way to murmur commentary for the camera, venturing out on his own to fund his documentary production. As we watched, the polar bear elegantly swam using a beautiful breast stroke, about five or six yards from our location.

As it glided towards our small floatable, it suddenly halted. A moment of stillness followed, then an immense snort that reverberated far away. It was clear this was a warning. The bear had communicated, “Keep your distance!” Upon reaching the opposite bank, it emerged, giving itself a good shake like a colossal canine. Everyone shuddered in response. But there was more to come – another surprise awaited us.

In my expert opinion, I found myself in a precarious situation recently where one of my paddles struck something solid beneath the water’s surface. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the depth was barely three feet deep. That towering bear, standing on all fours, could have effortlessly loomed over us at any moment, crushing our boat or worse yet, taking us out instantly with a single swipe. In retrospect, it seems miraculous that we escaped unscathed from such a potentially lethal encounter.

After stepping out of the bear costume from our recent photoshoot, I find myself looking a bit different – my once golden mane is now gleaming white, but the sun-kissed tan still lingers. My charm, camaraderie, and infectious enthusiasm are qualities that many will recognize from my on-screen appearances. As a lifestyle expert, I strive to bring this same energy and authenticity to every interaction, making each moment an adventure worth experiencing.

What is her take on his risky adventures, Jane Bird says, ‘He’s being quite reckless, but he can’t help himself.’

He tells her, “I’ll handle it on my own,” but he hasn’t shared with her some of the events detailed in this book that have occurred.

Bears have always been my favorite animals to visit at the zoo. However, their living conditions concerned him deeply. He found them to be the most visibly unhappy of all zoo animals, even as a ten-year-old he couldn’t help but think, “This is inhumane.” The polar bear had a filthy coat and bad teeth, while grizzlies and black bears seemed constantly frustrated, pacing around in circles.

A profound sense of interest was ignited within me by a single instance of interaction. One summer, we visited the zoo on two occasions. During the first visit, a bear approached and gazed at me; upon returning later, he repeated the action as if recalling our encounter. This thought crossed my mind: “He recognizes me, isn’t this amazing?” They are incredibly intelligent creatures.

It’s hardly surprising that he values bears greatly. He views them as among the most stunning creatures on Earth. If we treat them with respect and avoid hunting, trapping, or harming them in any way, they will continue to inhabit our world.

remarkably, it’s shocking that certain affluent individuals continue to hunt big game merely for amusement. As Chris puts it, “People assume they’re all American hunters, but there are plenty from the UK.” He then questions, “Isn’t it time we stopped hunting lions and bears and instead preserved their heads as trophies?

If a trophy hunter were in the same room, I would confront him strongly, possibly expressing my disapproval by speaking firmly or even raising my voice. I deeply condemn this practice as it’s morally reprehensible and cruel. I wish that those who engage in such activities face consequences that reflect the seriousness of their actions.

He carried a firearm during his Norway trip for personal safety. If a polar bear had charged towards him and gotten dangerously close, it would have been necessary to shoot, as the alternative could have been fatal.

Chris departed from Millionaire back in 2014. Since then, he’s been involved with other productions, but that chapter has come to an end for him now. To put it into perspective, 52 years is quite a long time on-screen. He cherished his work and enjoyed the experience immensely. However, after attending the funerals of five close friends who were around the same age, he began questioning his remaining years in life and decided he didn’t want to spend them confined within a studio.

Among my close companions was the esteemed Sir Terry Wogan, who has since passed away. Being part of the same circle for the Lord’s Taverners cricket charity, we attended numerous dinners together. As you might guess, we both enjoyed a good drink or two. One particular evening, we found ourselves at an event held at the Savoy Hotel. With early mornings ahead for our respective breakfast shows, we were supposed to be responsible and call it a night. But, being mischievous as only old friends can be, we decided to have just one more drink before calling it a night. We ended up leaving that bar around three in the morning.

1. Chris had been taken home, yet scarcely managed to catch some rest. It’s as if you lay down and the alarm jolts you awake instantly. You exclaim, “No! Not again!” It must have been around 5am. My driver Jim was waiting outside, and I felt dreadful.

2. Chris arrived home but barely had a chance to rest his head before being awoken by an alarm. It’s that feeling where you think, “Not now!” only to find out it’s already morning. It seemed like 5am. My driver Jim was there and I felt utterly wretched.

3. Chris got home, but sleep barely came his way. The sensation of lying down and the alarm blaring in your face is familiar. “No way! Not yet!” It appeared to be around 5am. My driver Jim awaited me outside, and I was feeling unwell.

During their next encounter, I inquired, “How did you feel the morning after?” Let me tell you, my head was throbbing, and my tongue felt like it was covered in fur! I was a mess. Terry grinned slyly and confessed that he hadn’t even gotten up until around noon on that day. Chris mimicked Terry’s Irish accent: “Didn’t I say? I took the whole week off!” He chuckled heartily. “Terry tricked me!

In 2014, I experienced a mini stroke on a plane, which made me take a hard look at my work-life balance. Reflecting on it now, I realize I had a narrow escape. As I speak to you today, I’m grateful that everything is functioning, but I did require speech therapy to regain my abilities. It was a terrifying experience, taking time for me to get back on track.

It seems he’s not spending eight hours daily at the gym as you might think! More like eight hours in the pub, if my guess is right. He’s altered his habits though; he’s given up whisky, considering it wasn’t such a good choice. He still enjoys wine. Jane’s been influencing him towards a healthier lifestyle, but every now and then, he indulges in some freedom from that diet.

How does he maintain his physical health? He spends a lot of time walking on the 40-acre land and woods he owns. Although he’s not a gardener, he spends quite a bit of time cutting down vegetation. They reside in Bucklebury, Berkshire, where Princess Diana spent her childhood years. However, with retirement came the luxury of spending six weeks in the Caribbean during winter, which explains his tan.

During cold days at home, the children would call to share their discomfort, to which we’d respond with plans for a trip to the beach. Returning in February, I collected the mail only to find our house was fine. My response was, ‘Why are we still here?’ Jane echoed my thoughts, ‘I don’t know, let’s go back.’ And so, we promptly returned to the Caribbean for another three weeks – that’s the luxury of retirement.

As an ardent fan, I can’t help but marvel at the Tarrant dynasty in radio broadcasting. Two of Chris Tarrant’s offspring have ventured into this realm, just like their father before them. Toby is a star on Radio X, while Fia shines on Heart. In today’s world filled with discussions about nepotism in the entertainment industry, I ponder if having the surname ‘Tarrant’ in radio provides an advantage? Chris himself expresses some uncertainty about this topic, stating that Toby encountered a hint of it when he first began his career, but it was merely speculation about him being born with a golden spoon. However, Chris clarifies that he didn’t play a significant role in Toby’s success. He only offered a bit of advice, but now Toby stands on his own feet, no longer needing his father’s guidance. Both Toby and Fia were asked about changing their surname, to which they responded: “What would we call ourselves?

In my case, returning to television wasn’t an enticing proposition. After producing four fishing documentaries for Channel 5, I couldn’t stand it. The crew had no interest in fishing themselves, so they would ask questions like, “When will you catch the first salmon?” To which I would reply, “I have no idea!

I’m content with my decision to halt [something]. Initially, the caliber of light-hearted programming was outstanding: Cilla Black, Michael Aspel, Michael Parkinson, Michael Barrymore at his prime, Des Lynam were among the stars gracing our screens. Nowadays, it seems they lack that kind of star power. Ant and Dec are exceptional, but there’s a scarcity of similar talent today.

Has he ever tuned into the version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire hosted by Jeremy Clarkson? No, we don’t have a close relationship, but we seldom cross paths and exchange casual greetings. However, I don’t usually watch game shows because after hosting one for 15 years, my interest has waned. Instead, I prefer streaming content on Netflix or watching sports.

His groundbreaking television program, Tiswas, was an impromptu, chaotic live show where celebrities were squirted with custard and foam, and the course of events or spoken words were never predictable. ‘It wouldn’t fly today; they’d cancel you for it,’ he remarks.

After finishing with television, his next venture will involve writing a book about going on safari and encountering animals as perilous as his cherished bears. However, he has no intention of getting close to vodka, under any circumstances. He’s aware enough not to take unnecessary risks; he values his life too much and wants to continue enjoying it even more.

For The Love Of Bears by Chris Tarrant will be published by Great Northern Books on July 11, £25

Read More

2025-06-26 14:21