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There’s something humbling about stripping it all back – no kit, no comforts, no guarantees. Just you, your instincts, and the unknown.
After 23 years in the British Army, including a full career with 29 Commando, I thought I’d experienced hardship. I’ve operated in war zones, jungle, desert, and arctic extremes. I’ve gone without food, sleep, and safety. I’ve been cold to the bone and burnt to the core. But nothing – nothing – quite prepared me for Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse.
This wasn’t just another survival show. This was a plunge into what the world might look like after it all falls apart. A crumbled civilisation. No help coming. No rules to follow. You land with nothing but the mindset you bring – and the grit to get through.
In this version of the challenge, you're not in some untouched wilderness. You're scavenging in ruins, repurposing trash, boiling dirty water, and fending off both the elements and the isolation. It’s survival, but stripped of the romance. It’s gritty, raw, and real. There’s no hiding who you are when everything else is gone.
I was paired with a stranger, as always. No clothes. No tools. Just our knowledge and determination. And although I’ve trained others to survive in the wild through my company, South West Survival, and led expeditions around the world, Apocalypse took things to a whole new level. It reminded me that survival is more than skill – it’s mindset, presence, and willpower.
Every day tested us. Scavenging for food in the rubble. Building shelter out of debris. Dealing with heat, exposure, and dwindling energy. But the hardest part? The mental battles. The long silences. The way your mind wanders when the fire dies and the night closes in. That’s when the real fight starts.
Why I Did It
People often ask why I’d put myself through this again. I’ve already done Naked and Afraid. But this? This was a chance to test everything I stand for. To show what training, experience, and inner resilience look like when the stakes are high. And to bring back real lessons for the people I teach – not theory, but lived experience.
Coming Soon
Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse will air soon on Discovery Channel – and trust me, it’s the toughest challenge I’ve ever faced. I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes stories on my socials, giving talks at survival and adventure events, and bringing what I’ve learned into new training packages and expeditions.
If you're interested in the real face of survival, if you're curious what it means to truly adapt, overcome, and endure – stay tuned.
Steven Kelly
Commando Veteran | Survival Instructor | Adventurer
www.southwestsurvival.co.uk
Instagram: @SouthWestSurvival
