Steven Kelly — Commando-trained survivalist & TV personality.
Steven Kelly is a British Commando-qualified survivalist, television personality and podcast host from Liverpool, now based in the South West of England. After 23 years serving with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, he founded South West Survival, where he teaches practical bushcraft and expedition skills drawn from years operating in jungle, desert, Arctic and mountain environments. Steven’s calm, no-nonsense style has featured on Discovery’s Naked and Afraid franchise and Channel 4/E4’s Naked Alone & Racing to Get Home. Today he splits his time between media projects, running courses and leading expeditions — helping people build resilience, self-reliance and sound decision-making under pressure.
At a glance-
British Commando veteran – 23 years with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
TV survivalist – Discovery’s Naked and Afraid & Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse; E4’s Naked Alone & Racing to Get Home
Podcast host – The Survival Debrief Podcast with Steven Kelly
Founder – South West Survival (bushcraft & survival centre in Devon, UK)
Expedition leader & instructor – Arctic, jungle, desert and mountain environments
Online safety & scam-awareness advocate – after his images were used in large-scale romance scams
Television & media
Steven is best known as a TV survivalist, with appearances including:
- Naked and Afraid (Discovery Channel) – 21-day jungle challenge
- Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse (Discovery Channel) – post-apocalyptic themed survival series
- Naked Alone & Racing to Get Home (Channel 4 / E4) – stripped-back race through the British outdoors.
These experiences pushed him physically and mentally, and they opened up conversations about what “real” survival looks like when the cameras stop. Steven regularly shares the unseen side of these shows — decision-making, partnership dynamics and the emotional aftermath — through talks, interviews and online content. In 2025 he also appeared on ITV’s This Morning, speaking about how scammers used his photographs to build fake identities and defraud victims, and what people can do to protect themselves online.
The Survival Debrief Podcast
Steven hosts The Survival Debrief Podcast with Steven Kelly, a long-form show where he sits down with survivalists, adventurers and outdoor professionals from around the world. Each episode explores:
- What really happens in the first hours of a survival challenge
- How people prioritise shelter, water, fire and movement under pressure
- The psychology of fear, ego and partnership in extreme environments
- How they recover physically and mentally once they return home
The aim is simple: real survival, without the TV gloss — and practical lessons listeners can use on their next camp, expedition or stressful day at work.
South West Survival & expeditions
As founder of South West Survival, Steven runs bushcraft and survival training in Devon and across the UK. Courses range from beginners’ days in the woods to more demanding multi-day experiences and commando-style boot camps. Through South West Survival and his expedition brand Commando Expeditions, Steven designs and leads trips that blend:
- Practical survival skills
- Real-world navigation and fieldcraft
- Mindset and resilience training
- Community, teamwork and adventure
Whether it’s families around a campfire, veterans rebuilding confidence outdoors, or teams tackling tougher expeditions, the focus is always the same: adapt, overcome and thrive, not just “tough it out”.
Online safety & scam awareness
Because Steven’s images have been stolen and used in romance scams worldwide, he now speaks publicly about:
- How romance and impersonation scams work in practice
- The emotional and financial damage they cause
- Red flags to watch for in online relationships
- What to do if you or someone you know has been targeted
This real-world experience means he can talk about survival both off-grid and online — helping people protect themselves in more ways than one.
Official profiles & links
These are Steven’s main official profiles and useful links:
Websites
- Personal site: https://www.stevenkelly.uk
- South West Survival: https://www.southwestsurvival.co.uk
Television & data profiles
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12393715/
- Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/steven_kelly_2
- TVMaze: https://www.tvmaze.com/people/466825/steven-kelly
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108915168
Podcast – The Survival Debrief Podcast with Steven Kelly
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEywXoYZsNr3De4cdLQ1U
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-survival-debrief-podcast-with-steven-kelly/id1844233698
- Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Debrief-Podcast-Steven-Kelly/dp/B0FTY49H4Y
Social media
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StevenKelly29
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@survival_ste
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survival_ste/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/survivalstevenkelly/
- X (Twitter): https://x.com/survival_ste
Business listings & reviews
- South West Survival on TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186258-d2534552-Reviews-South_West_Survival-Plymouth_Devon_England.html
Media & speaking enquiries
For TV, podcast, press or speaking enquiries about survival, mindset, online safety or Steven’s television work, please use the contact form on this site or email: steven1640@live.co.uk
