Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild - Season 18

Ben meets more people who chose to venture down alternative paths to everyday life, beginning with musician Vanessa Forero, who moved from her native Yorkshire to a remote mountainside in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia. Together they tackle home improvements, from a new cable car to building walls, receive a visit from an indigenous leader, and Ben hears one of the most extraordinary survival stories he has ever heard.

Ben explores the Great Blasket Island off the coast of Ireland, staying with Dan and Emily who are island caretakers on Europe's rugged western frontier. Ben discovers how the couple have adapted to their new lives on the island and what they've achieved while living there. Plus, he experiences fixing a water pump, catching sheep, foraging seaweed and swimming with seals.

Ben travels to an island on Norway's coastline to meet his host Elena, a former Middle East peacekeeper, and experience the hardships of living in the environment. Ben joins Elena and her partner on a mountain climb, before helping them finish their guest house, cleaning a beach, kayaking on frozen waters and gardening in the harsh landscape.

Ben travels to Southeast Asia, meeting entrepreneur Niall who now helps the country's street-dogs after trading in his previous career. The pair explore his self-built dog sanctuary on the island of Koh Samui, where Ben is joined by volunteers and other dog-loving locals to help out with daily chores. Niall and Ben prepare food for the pooches in the sanctuary and across the island, before making dog beds from oil drums and a canine splash-pool.

Ben stays with host Paul in Lincolnshire onboard his 30-year-old converted military truck, and discovers why Paul traded living in a house for life on the road.

Ben visits Sri Lanka to stay with Naveen and Anke at their home in the country's highlands. They discuss why they moved away from civilisation, the struggles they had settling into their new lives and if they mean to entirely sever their ties with the outside world. Ben makes himself useful fixing a burst pipe, rendering walls with cow dung and making supply trips to a town.

Ben visits the wilds of central Portugal to meet Luke and Sarah, who gave up their careers to put down roots on a deserted sheep farm. As Ben helps them clear their land, forage acorns for the pet pigs and garden, he learns about the financial and physical troubles they have faced and their wider travelling adventures.

Ben travels to the forests of Chile to meet northern Brit Scott and his young family at their hand-built off-grid cabin in the woods. He learns about the challenges they've faced in their two years of wild living, such as freak floods, forest fires and Scott losing a finger. Ben also sees how nature offers a form of therapy to his anxiety-ridden host.

Ben reconnects with his old British friend Paul Ferber and his family in Thailand. He learns why they left their Cambodian island home since he last saw them, where Paul was raising his own castaway tribe and defending sea-life from the illegal trawler trade. Now, they discuss how his tribe feel about their new jungle home, and whether their long-standing battle with pirates has continued.

Ben returns to the Arctic circle to revisit old friend, and fellow adventurer, Randi Skaug, who is living on her remote island off Norway's northern coastline. When Ben last met Randi, he embraced life on the island and discovered how his host was the first Norwegian woman to climb Everest. Now, five years later Ben's back to find out how the intermittent years have treated Randi.

Ben Fogle heads back to the jewel of the Indian Ocean to catch up with British vet Janey, who set up a rescue centre for Sri Lanka's street-dogs. Five years on, Janey's centre looks even more impressive. The vet speaks about her new struggles, such as being left alone during the pandemic, and Ben witnesses the impact her charity is having.

Ben returns to the Suffolk countryside, and a secretive patch of woodland, to reunite with unique character Will Lord (50), a true British caveman.

Last time, Ben embraced Will's ‘Stone Age' existence in the forest, immersing himself to help Will complete his caveman home. They prepared and ate dinner using primitive tools, Ben learned a range of skills from fire-starting to coracle boating on the river, and he spent time with Will and his dad, arguably one of the best flint-knappers in the world.

Now, almost three years later, Ben discovers how Will's new prehistoric dream is developing and how those closest to him are embracing his new-found passion.