'Chasing adders in Surrey set me up for adventure'

TV adventurer Steve Backshall has traced his adventurous streak back to the influence of his parents and his Surrey upbringing ahead of his upcoming shows.

Backshall, from Bagshot, says he grew up chasing wildlife on the heaths before a career involving swimming with whales and filming with mountain lions, among other adventures.

Now, the 53-year-old is preparing to bring his Deadly Live stage show to the South East, playing the Brighton Centre in October.

Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex, the Deadly 60 presenter said: "I started out on the Surrey Heaths looking for adders and skylarks and that passion has taken me to the Antarctic and the Himalayas, and all of these incredible places."

He added: "I'm very lucky in that my mum and dad loved the outdoors and were really into animals.

"Not everyone out there has those passionate influences that I had. Being able to be a part of that is really important."

Backshall, whose Deadly 60 series has also recently released its seventh series, also shared his admiration for David Attenborough, following his 100th birthday.

The pioneering naturalist was celebrated at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this month, with Backshall taking part in the event.

He said being on stage with Attenborough and being able to say thank you to one of his childhood heroes was "very, very uplifting".

On his new series, he said that being able to film with pumas in Patagonia, which had been his "nemesis" having tried and failed to spot them previously, was one of the highlights of his career, alongside swimming with blue whales.

Backshall's Deadly Live show will come to the Brighton Centre on 29 October.

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