Bear Grylls To Lead Adventure Format ‘No Way Back’ As John De Mol’s Talpa Studios Teams With Bunim/Murray To Take Out To U.S. Buyers

Peter White
·3 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: John De Mol’s Talpa has been on a run in the U.S. recently with The Floor and The Quiz With Balls both landing at Fox.

Talpa Studios is now taking its latest European format No Way Back to buyers and has teamed up with survival expert Bear Grylls, his Banijay-backed production company The Natural Studios and The Challenge: USA producer Bunim/Murray Productions.

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No Way Back, which launched in the Netherlands in January on SBS6, follows a group of adventurers embarking on a grueling trail through Norway’s rugged nature. Along the trail, they pass four camps, each worth a certain amount of money, but reaching the finish is worth more. The adventurers are pushed beyond their limits by experienced commandos.

In the U.S. version, former British SAS trooper Bear Grylls will lead the group of 16 contestants as they navigate through the challenges.

It is the latest U.S. show for the survivalist, who recently fronted I Survived Bear Grylls for TBS. That show was also produced by Bunim/Murray Productions and The Natural Studios.

The original Dutch version is a partnership between Talpa Studios and Signal.Stream. It recorded a share of 17.3% of audiences aged 25-59 and its finale was watched by 811,000 viewers.

The move comes after Talpa teamed with Fremantle’s Eureka on The Floor and The Quiz with Balls. The Floor launched on Fox with Rob Lowe hosting and Deadline revealed earlier this year that the two companies had also sold The Quiz with Balls to the network.

Grylls said, “No Way Back is a proven phenomenon and it’s easy to see why. You mix adventure, hard cash and even harder decision making under pressure and you have the ingredients for drama. I’m excited and proud to be bringing this show to new territories and reminding global audiences that the wild takes away, but it also rewards. Get ready for the adventure.”

Julie Pizzi, President Bunim/ Murray, added, “We are thrilled to be teaming up with John and the team at Talpa Studios on No Way Back, which clearly resonated with Dutch viewers right out of the gate, and we expect it to do likewise here in the U.S., especially with someone as experienced in adventure as Bear Grylls onboard.”

John de Mol said, “Following the introduction of two successful quiz show formats in the U.S., we are excited to now bring No Way Back, our new adventure reality format, to the world’s most significant TV market. With No Way Back, we are introducing a pioneering format to the global stage, underscored by our collaboration with Bear Grylls, an international phenomenon in the world of survival. Bear’s involvement, given his vast experience and the groundbreaking shows he has led, elevates this format to new heights, promising an unparalleled adventure for both participants and viewers.”

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