Not in it to win it? Not at all. All the expeditions I’ve been on, whether climbing Mount Everest or crossing the north Atlantic Arctic Ocean in an inflatable boat, have been because I’ve wanted to explore territory where I feel alive. I feel most like myself when I’m in those situations.

An adrenalin junkie? It’s not adrenalin because that doesn’t last three and a half months up a mountain. It’s more to do with the intimacy that you build up with your companions and the fact that it’s strong and raw and honest. You don’t get that in day-to-day life.

Back to earth with a bump? Definitely. I struggle so much more back home. Real life is more fluffy. And it’s fast — it charges on regardless of the fact that you’re away, facing life-and-death situations and trying to come back in one piece.

You have broken four world records so far, on land, at sea and by air. What’s next? I’m going to go to try to reach these high plateaus in Venezuela that no one has ever set foot on. The early explorers believed there were rivers of gold running up there. It’s virgin territory; I am really fired up by this one.

So you don’t fancy doing a Shackleton and becoming Polar Bear? No, it’s bloody cold and miserable in the Arctic. I’ve got a lovely wife and family at home these days. That’s more important.

How does your wife Shara cope? She understand that it’s my work. It’s hard, though. I’m completely and utterly bonkers about her and my two-year-old son Jesse, so being away from them for even an hour is difficult.

Biggest challenge so far? When I was 21, I broke my back in three places in a freefall parachuting accident in Africa. Recovering my confidence after that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Doctors told me that I’d never climb again, so I had to learn to walk and do yoga and physio to build my strength.

Are you still a fan of the lotus position? Yes, although I find it quite boring. I prefer to get my exercise in more enjoyable ways: by running my dog around a park, or by scrambling up and down hills with my son on my shoulders.

Any other brushes with death? Loads. On Everest, a crevasse gave way beneath my feet and my life was saved by my best friend who pulled me to safety. My closest shave ever was when we hit a freak storm during the Arctic crossing: there were massive icebergs and waves the size of houses. We were bloody lucky to come out of it alive and it made me all the more aware how precious life is.

You live on your own island off North Wales, and have a houseboat in London. Afraid of being landlocked?

I’m afraid of being locked, full stop. I have spent most of my life fighting to get away from the pressure to have a conventional nine-to-five job. Although the downside of building your own dreams is that if you don’t perform, they don’t come true.

You just broke the record for the highest open-air dinner party, slung under a hot-air balloon at 7,395m (24,260ft). Why?

I was asked to do something special to celebrate 50 years of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme and thought it would be fun. The Guinness Book of Records had three stipulations: that we wore formal dress, ate three courses and toasted the Queen. It was ridiculous: minus 42C ( minus 44F), oxygen cylinders, thermal suits, helmets, goggles . . .

Good meal, though?

It was an amazing menu: duck à l’orange, asparagus spears. But everything was frozen: it was like: oxygen mask off; a quick mouthful; chomp chomp; mask back on . . .

At least you must be used to freeze-dried food? Dehydrated meals are always a nightmare. Because I hate them, for the Arctic trip I bought loads of chocolate bars — a huge mistake. At those temperatures, chocolate goes frosty white and horrible. There are a lot of choc bars floating around the Arctic Ocean now, I can tell you.

Do you eat your greens?

I’m sponsored by Juice Plus — an American company that makes flash-dried fruit and vegetable capsules. It is like taking a carrier bag of raw fruit and veg in tablet form. You swallow them with loads of water and they give you all the antioxidants you need.

You work a lot as a motivational speaker. What puts the grrr in Grylls? My Christian faith is a real backbone and I am no longer scared to say that I depend on it. I read a lovely quote a few days ago: “There is no such thing as an atheist on the Arctic Ocean.” That’s true.

For more information visit www.beargrylls.com

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