Have a wild time with Steve Backshall

They say that in television you should never work with children or animals, yet wildlife expert Steve Backshall is making a pretty good career for himself doing both.

Best-known as the all-action host of hugely-successful CBBC series Deadly 60 (and it’s various spin-offs including Live And Deadly, Deadly 360 and Deadly Art), the naturalist has achieved hero status with children everywhere for his willingness to get up-close and personal with the world’s scariest animals.

It’s an attitude that’s seen him dive with man-eating sharks, capture venomous snakes and face some of the planet’s most fearsome predators head-on, enduring a bite from a crocodile and the excruciating agony of being stung by hundreds of bullet ants along the way.

Although the 39-year-old might have been touted as the next David Attenborough, it’s not just his hands-on approach that sets him apart from his paternalistic predecessor. His rugged good looks ensure that the BAFTA Award-winning presenter is every bit as popular with mums as he is with the kids.

There’s likely to be plenty of happy faces all round this Saturday, then, when the nature enthusiast’s show A Wild Life stops off in the Capital on the latest leg of a nationwide tour.

Featuring exclusive clips from his globe-trotting expeditions, he’ll be recounting his most awesome animal encounters and talking about his new fiction novel Tiger Wars, as well as acclaimed autobiography Looking For Adventure.

Budding adventurers looking for inspiration can also tap into his impressive knowledge at the Q&A session which follows.

Steve Backshall, A Wild Life, Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, Saturday, 2.30pm & 7.30pm, £19.50,

www.edtheatres.com