Netflix is gearing up to unleash an exciting new competition series on February 5, and it’s shaping up to be a riveting experience for viewers.
Touted as a “next level” adventure, the show will transport 12 well-known personalities into the wilds of Costa Rica, where they must navigate harrowing tasks while evading the pursuit of survival expert Bear Grylls in what’s called the elimination round.
Dubbed the Bear Pit, contestants will find themselves wrestling with a myriad of snares and mini-games that are anything but a walk in the park.
Ben Mitchell, the creative director, disclosed the intimidating nature of the Bear Pit: “The Bear Pit is something to be feared, the sheer heat makes it hard enough, but it’s also brutal terrain – untamed jungle in a naturally constrained area.”
Mitchell added: “It has a crocodile in it (which we’ve nicknamed Julie), snakes, spiders, monkeys, scorpions. We haven’t put them in there, this is their home. It is genuinely terrifying”, reports the Mirror.
He emphasised the extreme challenge participants face: “Being pursued is frightening enough, but doing it when you know there are deadly critters, in extreme heat, when you also have to strategize and problem-solve, takes it to another level.”
Cast members have even branded the place as “hell”, highlighting a strong incentive to triumph in challenges and steer clear of the daunting Bear Pit.
An official synopsis sets the scene: “Meet the 12 celebrities taking part in the ultimate game of cat and mouse with the legendary Bear Grylls. They’ll live together, learn survival skills and compete in epic challenges.
“Lose, and they will face the most primal survival test of them all…being hunted down by Bear Grylls in nature’s deadliest escape room – The Bear Pit. Anyone caught by Bear will face elimination. Who will be the last celebrity standing?”
Spice Girl Mel B, tennis icon Boris Becker, interior design guru Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, broadcaster Steph McGovern, and ex-rugby ace Danny Cipriani are among the celebs braving the challenge on the show.
Also strapping in to outlast the elements are Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas, MC Big Zuu, songstress Una Healy from The Saturdays, and The Inbetweeners’ very own Joe Thomas.
Completing the adventurous assemble are model Lottie Moss, actor Kola Bokinni and fashionista Leomie Anderson, with Holly Willoughby taking the reins as presenter for this thrilling series.
Discussing her motivation for joining the show, Holly explained: “I knew it was going to be the ultimate adventure, and I just wanted something that really took me out of my comfort zone. Putting those things together, I thought, the show sounds really, really exciting.”
Celebrity Bear Hunt airs on February 5 on Netflix