Ken Hames

Ken created and is the expedition leader on the ground breaking ‘Beyond Boundaries’ series for BBC TV.  In the first series Ken led an expedition of 12 disabled people (one of whom was blind), across Nicaragua, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean in a record breaking, 300 km trek starting in the Mosquito Coast and ending one month later as a world first.  The series showed the team going through jungles in over 40 degrees of heat, dealing with a dangerous route overrun with drug running bandits and even climbing the most difficult live volcano in Central America. The second series saw a new group crossing Africa starting at Victoria Falls and ending on the Skeleton Coast. 

Desert Darlings

'Desert Darlings’ was broadcast on Channel 4 in spring 2003. Ken Hames took couples across the Namib Desert, placing their sometimes fragile relationships under the extreme pressures of an expedition. His first series for Channel 4, was the award winning, ‘Jungle Janes’, where Ken’s challenge was to turn a group of British women, none of whom had any expedition experience, into a cohesive team fit enough to take on the gruelling jungles of Borneo.  It was enjoyed by millions who found this journey an inspiration. The first documentary was a television series, called ‘The Trek’ broadcast by Meridian.  In 1994, with the help of Diana, Princess of Wales, Ken was able to take twelve disadvantaged youngsters to the heart of Africa on a 500-mile trek over desert and mountainous terrain, The process transformed their lives and Ken still monitors their progress, twelve years on.

These documentaries have proved Ken’s extraordinary ability to inspire and motivate even the most unlikely candidates. His unique skills enable him to take any rabble of individuals and finish with a winning, cohesive team, using sound leadership and thorough training are just some of the tools he uses.  Ken is passionate about empowering people to transform their lives for the better.

Other Television Shows

Ken Hames presented the highly praised series, ‘Greatest SAS Missions’ for Five in 2004, CBBC’s ‘Bring it On’, ‘Hero Factor’ for the Discovery Channel in 2002, ‘Battle Stripes’ for Sky in 2000, ‘Future Fighting Machines’ for the US in 2003, Channel 4’s ‘Shattered’ and ITV’s ‘Celebrity Fit Club’.  Ken was also involved from the earliest of stages in the design and development of ITV’s ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’.

Real Life Action Man

Ken Hames is a real life action man who leads from the front. He has 25 years military experience under his belt, and is almost unique in having served in The Parachute Brigade, the Royal Marines and the Special Air Service. Ken’s operational experience is vast, ranging from guarding Nazi war criminal Rudolph Hesse, in Spandau Prison to the liberation of Port Stanley in the Falklands.

Ken Hames is an accomplished Mountain Guide and skier and represented Great Britain in cross-country skiing.  ken played rugby for the Combined Services, is an expert in the great outdoors in all survival disciplines and is a keen amateur opera singer!   

For further information or to book Ken Hames, call us on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk