Deadly

Did you know that box jellyfish venom can stop a human heart in seconds?Or that modern scorpions' ancestors were longer than the tallest humans?Or that the punching power of a mantis shrimp can shatter bulletproof glass?Steve Backshall has encountered deadly animals all over the world for over 25 years - and with Deadly he collects his most memorable experiences into a jaw-dropping compendium of fascinating facts about the most dangerous species on our planet. From ancient predators and cold-blooded killers to lethal lures and biggest bites, Steve revisits some of the best-known and most-feared beasts in the animal kingdom. His encounters include the orca, the most formidable predator on our planet today; the piranha's unusually powerful bite force (which Steve has experienced first-hand, losing a couple of fingertips in the process!) and the phenomenally painful sting of the bullet ant - so named because a single sting feels like being shot - alongside many more weird and wonderful survival tactics and superpowers of the natural world. Drawing on his decades of experience in the field, Steve takes a heart-poundingly close look at the greatest record breakers in the animal kingdom, determines who would come out on top in a showdown between the deadliest animals to have ever lived, and uncovers all the drama of his adventures in pursuit of all things Deadly!

Born in 1973, Steve Backshall was brought up on a smallholding in the home counties of England. He studied English at university before going on to study biology, eventually becoming Adventurer in Residence for National Geographic. He travels the world as presenter of BBC TV's Deadly series, for which he has won two BAFTAs. He presented BBC One's Big Blue Live alongside Matt Baker and Liz Bonnin in 2015, which went on to win the BAFTA Television Award for Best Live Event. His other documentary series include Steve Backshall's Extreme Mountain Challenge, Down the Might River, and Steve Backshall and the Vertical Mile. He has written many books for both adults and children, most recently Deep Blue: My Ocean Journeys, a blend of memoir, travel, and marine science about underwater places and their wildlife across the globe.