PICK OF TODAY’S TV

BEN FOGLE: NEW LIVES IN THE WILD, 9PM, CH5

IF BEN’S guide in tonight’s episode looks familiar, that’s because you may have seen her in TV’s Boston Legal or Strike Back — and the British actress Rhona Mitra (pictured with Ben) has several new films in the works, too. Rhona was also the model for the original Lara Croft, the daredevil archaeologist computer game character, and she clearly has a strong adventurous streak herself, as she now lives alone in a remote valley in

Uruguay. Ben joins Rhona at her backwoods home, where she talks about her disillusionment with the bright lights of Hollywood and how she has had to come to terms with the macho culture of this rural region of the South American country. Her admirable new mission is to rescue and rehabilitate mistreated horses, and Ben accompanies her to a local auction to look for any animals in need of her help. Later, when a violent storm rolls in as Ben beds down in his fragile shelter, it really hits home just how far

Regularly featured as a Tuesday Pick of the Day alongside a photo.

10 JANUARY TUESDAY

Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild 9pm, Channel 5

This week Ben visits Bette, who lives alone in the wilds of northern Queensland. Bette is very much a no-nonsense type, so one thing she refuses to do is cook for him. It’s up to Ben, then, to serve up something tasty. Maltesers eaten with chopsticks looks an odd choice to me, but I guess it’s that or go hungry.

24 JANUARY TUESDAY

Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild 9pm, Channel 5

This week Ben is in South America, visiting the home of British-born actress Rhona Mitra. That’s Rhona on the right in this picture. And of course you’ll have noticed it isn’t Ben Fogle on the left. No, that’s a horse. Rhona devotes much of her time to rehabilitating them at her remote rural home in Uruguay.

The series featured weekly in the ‘What to Watch’ pages (in print). See examples below.

Factual

Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild Channel 5, 9pm

The more runs Ben Fogle’s fine series has, the richer, and more enjoyably unpredictable, the experiences and featured voices have become; tonight’s instalment is a case in point, as he reconnects with a man he first met living with his son off-grid in Slab City, California. This time he joins them in fishing for crayfish, cutting firewood, digging a toilet and embarking on the school run via kayak. GT

BEN FOGLE: NEW LIVES IN THE WILD

Channel 5, 9pm

Ben Fogle returns to Western Australia to visit 69-year-old Barbara, a Swiss woman who has lived alone in an isolated bush camp for 16 years. Since they met eight years ago, she has faced a cancer scare and dealt with the aftermath of a fire that devastated the local wildlife she cares for. Her philosophical outlook in the face of such testing events –“negative things happen to wake you up” – is admirable.

Factual

Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild Channel 5, 9pm

Adventurer Ben Fogle returns for another series of profiles on people who have rejected the rat race. In this opener he travels to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the US to meet Mike Basich, the snowboarder who has turned his back on fame to reconnect with nature. Prepare to seethe with envy at his hand-built log cabin.

Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild Channel 5, 9pm Ben Fogle meets more people who have chosen to live off grid, trading technology for simple living; this week, he’s in Tuscany, where British couple George and Sophie live in the stunning Casentinesi Forest national park with their two young children. As ever, the affable Fogle mucks in, helping with the couple’s farmhouse renovation, making pizza and collecting honey. VL

The series featured weekly in the ‘Viewing Guide’ by Ben Dowell as well as the Sunday Times’ Critic’s Choice, see examples below.

TUESDAY 3 JANUARY CRITICS’ CHOICE

New Lives In The Wild (C5, 9pm)

Ben Fogle’s roaming instinct takes him into Sierra Nevada mountains in the western US, where former professional snowboarder Mike Basich has retreated into nature. Hearty but compassionate, Fogle explores the emotional complications and sudden calamities of the off-grid life.

Tuesday 24 | Viewing guide

Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild

Channel 5, 9pm

Our well-spoken explorer/ interrogator is in Uruguay this week visiting the British-born actress Rhona Mitra and her new home in a remote valley. Poor health, a difficult childhood and apparent disillusionment with thespian culture all drove her into this tough new life in which she works rehabilitating horses. Processing the difficulties from her past and a need to adapt to her adopted country’s machismo culture doesn’t always make life easy, we learn. And if something goes wrong there seem to be few people to immediately call on. BD

Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild Channel 5, 9pm

Our well-spoken explorer/interrogator is in Uruguay this week visiting the Britishborn actress Rhona Mitra and her new home in a remote valley. Ill health, a difficult childhood and apparent dismay over thespian culture were all factors in driving her into this tough new life in which she works rehabilitating horses. However, processing the difficulties from her past and a need to adapt to her adopted country’s machismo culture doesn’t always make life easy, we learn. And if something goes wrong there seem to be few people immediately to call on.