Benedict Colin Allen is a British writer, explorer, and television pioneer known for his immersive approach to learning survival techniques from indigenous peoples. He studied Environmental Science at the University of East Anglia and took part in scientific expeditions to Costa Rica, Brunei, and Iceland. Allen's career includes many groundbreaking expeditions and innovative television work. He was the first TV adventurer to use a hand-held video camera to document his journeys, allowing audiences to experience real adventures in real-time. His notable expeditions include a 1,000-mile solo crossing of the Gobi Desert, the only known crossing of the Amazon Basin at its widest point, and a trek across the Central Mountain Range of Papua New Guinea. In 2017, he went missing during a solo expedition to meet the Yaifo tribe, where he had previously lived. After contracting malaria and dengue fever, he was rescued by helicopter. He has produced six television series for the BBC, including "The Skeleton Coast," which documented a foot expedition along the Namib Desert, and "Ice Dogs," which explored Inuit communities in the Arctic. Other series include "The Edge of Blue Heaven," "Last of the Medicine Men," "Expedition Africa," and "Unbreakable." Allen has written ten books, including the edited "Faber Book of Exploration" and "Mad White Giant," a personal account of his journey through the Amazon rainforest. He is recognized as one of Britain’s leading modern explorers, featured in the Daily Telegraph’s list of “Great Explorers” in 2013 and called “Television’s Most Fearless Man” by the Radio Times. He has been a Trustee of the Royal Geographical Society since 2010. As a motivational speaker, Allen shares his adventures and insights on endurance, self-belief, and resilience, inspiring audiences with his unique experiences. His legacy continues to influence a new generation of adventurers.
