Barney Strange thinks he’s "200 percent tougher" than Bear Grylls.
The 30-year-old paramedic from Leicestershire is currently starring on Channel 4’s ‘The Island with Bear Grylls’ – which sees the adventurer abandon 14 men and 14 women on separate desert islands in the Pacific – and he’s joked that having survived the experience, his toughness is now comparable to the show’s host.
Asked to rate his toughness in comparison to Bear, Barney exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "Oh, tougher! 200 percent tougher! I’d like to know how long he’d spent on a desert island with no food!"
However, Barney was quick to acknowledge that Bear is in a league of his own when it comes to survival skills and he’s happy to return to normality.
He reflected: "I felt like I’ve learnt a lot, but he’s got years and years of experience and he’s applied that in many situations. You know, I’ve been on a desert island for six weeks. I learnt a lot, but I’m not looking to replace Bear at the moment."
What’s more, Barney confessed he was "pleasantly surprised" by Bear’s humility.
He shared: "I was really pleasantly surprised by Bear. I mean, he’s obviously a big celebrity and you’re slightly star-struck when you meet him, he comes with a bit of an entourage.
"He was involved in giving us training before we went off to the island and he gave us a few briefs and things. And then, really, during the six weeks, we don’t hear from anybody."
‘The Island with Bear Grylls’ continues with the Men’s Island tonight at 9pm on Channel 4
Barney Strange is ‘200 percent tougher’ than Bear Grylls
