For a 'comedy survival series'

Russell Kane is is being sent to the ends of the Earth for an international survival series for BBC Three.

Described as ‘a light-hearted take on the survival genre – part Bear Grylls, part Idiot Abroad’, the six-part show will feature Kane using social media to seek tips on staying alive.

Kane leaves the UK for Norway tomorrow as part of a trip that will continue until his Right Man, Wrong Age tour begins in February.

He posted on his Facebook account: ’This is my last day in the UK before I start several weeks of bizarre comedy survivalism.

‘Expect posts from the Arctic, an Eastern European forest, an African desert, a South American desert island, the Italian Dolomites… and a rain forest in fricking Costa Rica. All posts asking for help and tips will be effing real. Pray for me. I have no skills.’

The as-yet-unnamed show is being made by Objective Productions, who make Peep Show, Toast Of London and The Cube.

A spokesperson for the company said: ‘I can confirm that we’re working on a series with Russell – which as he rightfully says on his social media sites involves him travelling to various places around the globe with certain aspects of comedy survivalism.’

A non-broadcast pilot was shot in an Essex forest in July, with Kane allowed access to nothing but water and Facebook.

He has also resumed tweeting, posting last week: ’Spent morning hanging with YouTubers/Viners. It’s the first phase of “project X”. Just had to say if I’d drink my own piss to survive FML’.

The new show has similarities to Ross Noble’s series Freewheeling on Dave, which follows the Geordie comic as he travels the UK performing tasks suggested to him on Twitter.

- by Jay Richardson

Published: 13 Nov 2015