You learn so much about how far you can push yourself and what you can do. How an experience like Antarctica helps you, it boosts your confidence.

I would hide behind my parents' legs at social events, I was even shy in front of my sisters. I was a really, really ridiculously shy boy. But the one thing I took from my public school education was confidence.

When I was on Taransay, I loved being part of a community, I loved that everyone knew what I was doing, where I was going. I loved that. I liked knowing that if I wasn't back at a certain time people would start worrying a little bit about me, I loved the whole community thing, sitting for hours and chatting to people.

We as humans, we're not solitary people, we're like dogs, we like to live in packs and know about one another. And, if anything, fame is people trying to attain community on a mass scale, because when you become famous wherever you go people know about what you've done and what you're about to do.

Without risk you can't experience life. There have to be risks, physically and mentally, taken by everyone.

I failed my exams and my driving test. I failed to get into the Foreign Office and drama school. The big F was dominant in my early years.

In the presenting area, there's nothing that really sets me apart from anyone else. It's something I enjoy but I was never going to set the world on fire.

I loathed my first term boarding at Bryanston school in Dorset. I hated being away from home; I think I had my parents in tears every time I spoke to them. I regret being so spoilt because within two terms I loved it.

Although I'm a city boy, I am a rural person at heart - and that comes from school. I'd lived near Marble Arch in London and it was fantastic to be surrounded by fields and trees.

Geography was the lesson I always looked forward to most. It was a form of escapism. It could be bleak midwinter outside but inside you're learning about African farming methods or the Great Lakes. No other lesson had that excitement.

After university, I was desperate to be an ambassador. It went back to geography: I loved the idea of living in exotic and exciting countries, but still driving a Land Rover and having tea. I failed the Foreign Office exams three times.

Whenever I leave home to film, my wife Marina gets terrified that I'm going to come back having bought a tiny plot of land in rural Alaska.

Broadcasters and production companies often don't appreciate the complexities of viewing habits, but Gogglebox has highlighted how in-depth people go when watching TV.

I had a short run as the presenter of 'Cash in the Attic'. It's a very popular show but didn't really suit me.

I find 'EastEnders' so utterly bleak.

I'm the son of a vet and grew up with golden retrievers. Dogs have always loomed large in our lives but labradors have the nicest personalities: kind, loyal and caring.

I'm acutely aware of the environment but I'm far from perfect - I love Land Rovers and fly too much.

I do try to reduce my carbon footprint a little bit by travelling around London on my electric bike. A lot of people raise their eyebrows but I love riding it.

When I reached the summit of Everest, I scooped some ice into my drinking bottle as I'd run out of water and hoped it would melt. After I got back to base camp, I decided to keep it, so I had a special bottle made with an inscription - it's my lucky water.

We're a much more touchy-feely, hands-on generation than our fathers but juggling work, family and social life and trying to be romantic and keep yourself fit is really hard. I want to be the perfect dad but you can't be the perfect dad unless you compromise elsewhere.

London really is my city; I was born within a breath of Marble Arch.

I'd be quite happy if cars were banned from central London. Why are we not using little tuk-tuks rather than big black cabs?

I wouldn't want to go into mainstream, Downing Street politics, though - it's just too cut-throat. I've got quite thin skin.

I am very proud of rowing the Atlantic Ocean.

Michael Palin and Paul Theroux are my travelling icons. I have a soft spot for Joanna Lumley. I'd love to go on an adventure with her.

I'm a very light packer. I don't like checking in luggage. I only like hand luggage.

I love the ocean. Anywhere near the ocean will do. Preferably the Atlantic Ocean.

For anyone, taking yourself out of your natural environment and comfort zone is such a great way to reflect where you've come from and where you are going.

We tend to default to complacency. Stick to the easy option. We all do it. We've tried to create a business model and society around us that is as easy and boxed as possible. We love creating boundaries and borders.

Some people confuse confidence with arrogance. There's no doubt in the business world there are a few big egos and I think arrogance can get in the way. But if you have the confidence to go to your higher superior and say this is wrong, it can make a difference.

Often, a seemingly clear clean beach has a huge amount of hidden litter.

On the face of it there is a pristine white sandy beach, but within an hour, around 100 of us can collect up to 250-300 kilos of rubbish. It's mostly bits of plastic, fishing line, nylon, bottle caps. We've found everything.

In some ways, I'm in danger of doing too many things to be able to appreciate and enjoy them. I look forward to thinking back to carrying the Olympic torch, or going to the Royal Wedding, when I'm in the middle of the ocean on my own far from anywhere - that's when I'll relive those moments.

I don't think you can ever get closer to the natural world, than just a man - as in mankind - in an ocean, just you and it. It's not about conquering the ocean, it's about working with it.

People are being overwhelmed with social issues, political problems and economic problems - and this notion of giving everything up and going to live off-grid and to have a simpler way of life is quite attractive.

I met a Swedish single mum called Annalise who is living in the wilderness. Her dilemma is finding enough wood to make a fire to keep warm.

It's not a surprise that the mental health epidemic is affecting so many people because we can't escape this bubble from being on our phones and tablets.

I think we are becoming more obsessed about getting a certain amount of likes on our Twitter and Instagram accounts rather than actually living a proper, real, honest and organic life.

When suddenly your focus changes, you see the years going by and it's an extra reminder that you don't want to live life with any regrets.

We so love to stereotype people in this country - I can relate to that myself as I've experienced it. By taking on challenges over the years, I've tried to show people I'm not just some 'posh boy' and that there's far more to me.

After all, island living is where I began on Taransay, and I have such fond memories of it.

When I travel with my family it's important that we do stuff together. I'm not the sort to send my children off to a kids' club.

I love sharing my travels and I've had some fascinating travelling companions over the years. I really believe travel is made the richer being with people.

I'm equally happy bouncing across the African savannah in an old Land Rover as I am staying in a luxury resort in The Maldives. Travel and the wilderness excite me.

I got rounded up by the police in Quito as I didn't have my passport with me. I was in prison for a night, which was pretty frightening, made more so when one of my male companions started crying.

I can't even cook an egg. The only thing I can do well is baking bread. I love it and find it incredibly therapeutic.

I have a terrible memory. I never remember names or faces. It's incredibly embarrassing.

I know some people obsess about their appearance but I don't - it's not something that bothers me.

There are a lot of people that I think look very good - Bryan Ferry and Jude Law dress really well, Steve McQueen was cool, and all the James Bonds have been very dapper.

In terms of TV shows, if you're a public figure, we've all been asked to do some sort of ridiculous show at some stage.