After speaking at the Turner Sims Theatre, Ben met with Wessex Scene Sport Editor Charlotte Woods, to talk about some of his achievements over the last ten years.

Ben Fogle is a TV Presenter, writer and adventurer. He has recently taken part in the race to the South Pole with double-gold medal winning Olympian James Cracknell and he and his wife Marina are currently expecting their first child.

CW: What do you relish most about your career? Is it the light-hearted challenges like tin bath racing and working on programmes such as Animal Park and Crufts, or is it the challenges that really test you and push you to the very limits of human ability?

BF: I think what I relish most are the opportunities that my job affords. I love the big challenges, but obviously these test me and there’s a lot of discomfort involved! Probably what I have enjoyed the most are things like the series ‘Wild In Africa’ working with wildlife, taking on the World Worm Charming Championship, I absolutely love things like that. I actually really enjoy doing talks and events like this; I like moving around the country, meeting different people and talking about some of my experiences of the last ten years.

CW: You recently contracted the flesh eating disease Leishmaniasis whilst filming for your series, Extreme Dreams with Ben Fogle. During the time that you were ill, did you start to lose some of your fearless nature and become more in touch with your own mortality?

BF: I wouldn’t say so necessarily with the Leishmaniasis. There have certainly been elements with other things I have done, like with the rowing [Ben rowed across the Atlantic with Olympian James Cracknell] when we capsized, or when we came across a crevice field in the South Pole. You definitely realise that you’re not invincible. I’ve experienced that feeling on a number of occasions and it’s not pleasant. It’s all about being complacent and then having the sudden realisation that, actually, there are far greater powers at work in the world, than your own self. You can reach a stage where you feel a sense of immortality, and experiences like those just serve to remind you that life is very fragile.

CW: As a Student, it’s encouraging to me that someone as successful as you who has had the opportunities that you have, didn’t start out with a clear goal or direction in life. Do you see yourself as an inspiration to University students in particular?

BF: Yes, I suppose so.  I’m 36 and I still have friends who don’t know what they want to do with their lives. I don’t think that just because you go to university and study a subject that you should necessarily have specific goals for your life in mind. Obviously if you’re studying Medicine or Oceanography then that’s quite a niche vocational subject. I studied Latin American Studies for instance and there’s no set career path with that. Hopefully, my tale will show students that it doesn’t matter if you graduate and don’t know what you want to do, that you can still make your own destiny. It might be in a very strange manner like mine has been, but if it can happen to me then it can happen to anyone.

CW: You took part in the Viking Run ice skating race and came last! Would you always recommend just having a go at any opportunity that comes your way?

BF: Well, I had never really ice skated before! But I really believe that if you don’t try then you don’t stand to gain anything, I would always recommend just getting out there and going for things, otherwise you will never know what you could have achieved. I would hate to have regrets that I didn’t try something, didn’t do something.

CW: Finally, Ben, lots of students at Southampton will be desperately jealous of your successful career; do you have any particular tips or advice for students here in Southampton?

BF: Well I was a student once so I do know what it’s like. Enjoy your student life and make the most of all the extra-curricular societies and events that are on offer, that’s certainly what I did. Don’t panic if you graduate and you don’t know what to do, because it will find you one day. Nothing will be handed to you on a plate and unfortunately a University degree no longer guarantees you a job. But don’t get despondent, if you really try hard and push yourself then that’s what is going to shine out; it’s about finding your own personality, being your own person. If you have confidence then you will shine out from the rest and people will pick up on it and that is the key to success.

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