National Geographic renews Running Wild with Bear Grylls, Brain Games for further seasons; makes Chris Hemsworth a healthy living 'guinea pig' in new longevity series Limitless.

by Thinus Ferreira

National Geographic (DStv 181) has renewed Brain Games and Running Wild with Bear Grylls for further seasons and has commissioned a new health and longevity series with Chris Hemsworth who will be the "human guinea pig" presenter.

"Brain Games and Running Wild with Bear Grylls are emblematic of our unscripted programming strategy - highly entertaining, personality-driven premium programming that lives up to the National Geographic brand," says Courteney Monroe, National Geographic Global Television Networks president in a statement.

"We are thrilled to greenlight the continuation of these franchises."

Keegan-Michael Key will be back as host of Brain Games. Along with world-famous mentalist Lior Suchard and field correspondent and neuroscientist Cara Santa Maria, each episode delivers shocking revelations on the science of our brains and surprising explanations behind why we do what we do, making it a television event for the whole family.

Meanwhile National Geographic has commissioned Limitless with Chris Hemsworth as presenter. The new series, produced by Nutopia and Protozoa Pictures will follow Chris Hemsworth on a mission to discover how to live healthier, smarter and longer lives.

Chris Hemsworth will try to transform himself in Limitless by training for 6 extraordinary challenges, showing how to fight ageing at every stage of life.

In each of the 6 episodes of Limitless Chris Hemsworth will investigate another scientific topic related to longevity ranging from regenerating damage, maximizing strength, building resilience, shocking the body, supercharging memory and confronting mortality.

Chris Hemsworth will meet with leading longevity scientists who believe that the key to staying young lies in rooting out and reversing the damage of time before they take hold, learning secrets from superhumans who demonstrate the mind-blowing extent of human potential.

"I was somehow convinced to volunteer myself as a human guinea pig and endure a series of mental and physical challenges across the globe, all for the sake of science," says Chris Hemsworth. "We’re hoping to shed some light on new ideas and emerging science with the focus on extending a healthy life span."

Courteney Monroe says "We are so fortunate to have Chris Hemsworth at the centre of this series and to tap into his genuine curiosity and real-life superhero powers to push his own personal limits".

Meanwhile a second of Gordon Ramsey: Uncharted will start in mid-2020 on National Geographic. Produced by Studio Ramsay, new episodes will feature Gordon Ramsay continuing his journey across the globe, embarking on exhilarating missions to unearth world cultures through food and adventure.

Gordon Ramsey: Uncharted follows Gordon Ramsay as he meets with indigenous people around the globe to learn about the cultures, dishes and flavours unique to each location.

Every ingredient he harvests and dish he tastes will inspire a new recipe from scratch, created to represent the heart of that culture.

Each episode concludes with Ramsay challenging himself with a local food legend by his side - putting his newfound skills to the test as they cook a feast together for the natives. For Ramsay, food is the gateway to culture, and every adventure is a portal into the soul of the people and place.

Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 24 September 2015

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M-Net and MultiChoice launch Express to Explora, adding new series to DStv Explora first before broadcast; adding first episodes of series on M-Net, M-Net Edge.

In response to the flurry of streaming video-on-demand (VOD) services that started in South Africa M-Net and MultiChoice are now adding several new TV series straight to its DStv Catch Up service on the DStv Explora for DStv Premium subscribers before its been broadcast on M-Net linear channels.

The new M-Net and DStv service - essentially a whole new M-Net provided "channel" - is branded as "Express to Explora".

M-Net and MultiChoice will add episodes of the new thriller procedural drama series Limitless and hospital drama Code Black from tomorrow, Thursday 24 September to the DStv Explora, as well as the new 6th season of Blue Bloods, all within 24 hours of their American broadcasting dates. The new season of Blacklist will be added from 3 October.

M-Net will broadcast Limitless, Code Black, Blue Bloods and Blacklist later on the linear M-Net (DStv 101) and M-Net Edge (DStv 102) channels when the linear play-out schedule allows.

M-Net and MultiChoice are also from now on adding the first episodes of all shows on M-Net and M-Net Edge to DStv Catch Up for the DStv Explora for DStv Premium subscribers, with viewers who now longer have to remember or know to record the first episode of a show when a new series starts.

"Instead of waiting for a gap on the already bumper-to-bumper prime time schedule on M-Net or M-net Edge, hand-picked series will be available exclusively on the DStv Explora within 24 hours of their United States launch times," says M-Net.

"Our superfast Express from the US delivery service has already revolutionised the way in which many people watch TV," says Gideon Khobane, M-Net director for general entertainment.

"We believe that series fans will love being able to watch more shows for which there simply are no available time slots yet, as they play out in the US. We're thrilled that we're able to make use of the incredible technology provided by the DStv Explora to make Express to Explora happen".

M-Net and MultiChoice are also from now on giving DStv Premium subscribers the first episodes of series as they premiere on M-Net and M-Net Edge.

"The new age of television is all about convenience - as a result of their busy lifestyles, viewers sometimes miss out on an entire series because they couldn't watch the first episode that introduced the main characters and vital story lines," says Gideon Khobane.

"We're now making it easier for them to never miss out on one of our excellent series again".