Steven Kelly is the founder of South West Survival — a British TV survivalist, survival instructor, podcast host and former British Army soldier with 23 years' service, including 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.

Known online as Survival Ste, Steven built South West Survival to deliver practical, confidence-building survival and bushcraft training for schools, families, corporate teams, women's groups, private groups and the public across Plymouth, Devon and the wider South West.

As Seen On

Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid and Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse, E4's Naked, Alone and Racing to Get Home, BBC's Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning, and Soldier Magazine.

Former 29 Commando Regiment Soldier

Steven served for 23 years in the British Army, including service with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery. He operated and trained in some of the world's most demanding environments — jungle, desert, mountain and Arctic. His experience covers fieldcraft, navigation, survival training, resilience under pressure, leadership and operating in austere conditions.

That military background is at the heart of South West Survival. The training is not about gimmicks. It is about practical outdoor skills, calm decision-making, problem-solving and controlled exposure to challenge.

TV Survivalist

Steven is a recognised TV survivalist. His television challenges tested his survival skills, mindset, leadership and resilience in demanding environments — and they give clients the chance to learn from someone who has been tested on screen, not just in training.

Podcast Host

Steven hosts The Survival Debrief Podcast, speaking with survivalists, adventurers, military veterans, TV survival personalities and people who have been tested in extreme environments. The podcast covers survival mindset, resilience, decision-making, expedition life and the realities of television survival challenges.

Survival Instructor for Schools, Companies and the Public

Through South West Survival, Steven and his team deliver survival and bushcraft courses, Forest School programmes and school activity days, corporate team-building built on leadership under pressure, women's outdoor experiences through She Survives, family events, birthday parties and private group bookings.

Every session is built around safe instruction, clear outcomes and practical skills: fire lighting, shelter building, navigation, campcraft and outdoor resilience.

Media and Speaking

Steven is available for media interviews, podcast appearances, public speaking, survival demonstrations and expert commentary on survival skills, resilience, military transition, television survival challenges and leadership under pressure. Use the Contact page for media and booking enquiries.

Train With Steven Kelly

Whether you want a survival course, a school programme, a corporate team-building day or a women's bushcraft weekend, South West Survival will build a practical, memorable and confidence-building experience — led by a former 29 Commando Regiment soldier and TV survivalist.

Find Steven's TV profile and The Survival Debrief Podcast at stevenkelly.uk.