Steve Backshall is a familiar face to anyone whose kids might have watched CBBC over the years, but there's a lot more to this TV presenter than his children's wildlife shows.
Who is Steve Backshall?
Steve Backshall is a British wildlife presenter, explorer and writer, who is best known for his CBBC wildlife series Deadly 60. He has presented the show since 2008, showcasing the world's most dangerous animals.
Alongside his TV work, Backshall has been involved in charity and conservation work with organisations such as Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, Buglife and World Land Trust, among others.
He was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2020 New Year Honours for his services to charity and wildlife conservation.
In recent years, he has been involved with the Earthshot prize, the environmental award founded by Prince William to encourage innovative solutions to repair the planet. He has worked with CBBC show Blue Peter to promote the prize and the young people involved.
Backshall is a big shark enthusiast, having spent lots of time following them as part of his series Shark with Steve Backshall, a four-part natural history series with Sky. He explains here why we should love sharks – and how social media could help save them. He has also discussed why shark attacks aren't actually that deadly.
What shows has he presented?
Steve Backshall joined CBBC's The Really Wild Show in 2003, going on to present the Deadly 60 series from 2008. He came face to face with deadly predators including jumbo squid, tarantulas, scorpions, tigers and leopards.
He has also worked on shows including Lost Land of the Tiger, Lost Land of the Volcano and Expedition with Steve Backshall, exploring remote regions of the globe and documenting rare species.
He featured in the presenting line-up of Our Changing Planet, a 2022 series which saw six presenters visit six locations across the globe to see how vulnerable habitats will be affected by climate change. In this, Backshall visited the Maldives to see the effects of warming seas and ocean acidification on coral reefs.
What books has he written?
He has written two non-fiction books: Venom: Poisonous Creatures in the Natural World (2007) and Looking for Adventure (2011), sharing insights from his expeditions.
In 2012, he released the first of The Falcon Chronicles, a series of adventure novels for young readers.
Where is Steve Backshall from?
Steve was born in Bagshot, Surrey, and grew up on a smallholding surrounded by animals. His parents worked for British Airways, which enabled Steve to travel the world and explore different cultures and see wildlife from all four corners of the globe.
Where did he go to university?
Steve studied English and Theatre Studies at the University of Exeter, before going on to get an Masters in Bioscience from Canterbury Christ Church in 2020 as a mature student.
How old is Steve Backshall?
Steve was born on 21 April 1973.
Who is Steve Backshall married to?
He is married to the rower Helen Glover, who he met in the 2014 iteration of Sport Relief, when they were both part of a celebrity rowing expedition across the English Channel. The pair have been married since 2016 and have three children.
Main image: Wildlife presenter Steve Backshall performs at Camp Bestival (credit: Getty Images)
Discover more about your favourite television presenters