South America with Simon Reeve

[Homewardbound2022]

What a great series. I haven't come across SR before now but he's very likeable and natural. Enjoyed learning about illegal gold mining, destruction of rain forests, adorable sloths in Suriname and the French Foreign Legion in French Guiana! Looking forward to episode 2.

We're big Simon fans and has watched every series he's done. We were eagerly anticipating this new one and it didn't disappoint.

He's fantastic isn't he, so much humanity.

It's interesting how he came to public notice after 9/11 as he'd previously written a book about the rise of Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda.

Do read his book Step by Step. His own life hasn't been at all what you might expect.

@ElusiveWhale that's interesting. There was an interview in yesterday's Times which I enjoyed. Sorry I've missed his earlier series. There was a very touching moment when he spoke with two distraught Venezuelan parents at a refugee centre.

Yes, he's lovely. He seems to cover stories you may not know about if you went there as a tourist. His Europe series was very interesting.

Lots of his earlier stuff is on iplayer, it's all fab.

Definitely read step by step, I also went to his book tour and he is such a personable, interesting guy.

Huge Simon fan here! Agree with the recommendation to read Step by Step. You should check out his back catalogue on iplayer/YouTube. 'Meet the Stans' is brilliant.

Have had the pleasure of meeting him in person and can say he is just a throughly lovely human being!

@Nordstrom will definitely order his book now!
Having been to a couple of the "Stans" myself, I'd love to see his own take.

I'll have to check this out. I like Simon Reeve and since seeing his programme on the plastic greenhouses in Almeria I refuse to buy Spanish greenhouse grown foods.

Yes. That was one episode of TV which changed my purchasing behaviour. The treatment of the workers was heartbreaking, and as for the environmental impact of that plastic

I have a bit of a Simon crush 😆

Love Simon Reeve. All his series are brilliant, he really doesn't shy away from difficult subjects. There was a sort of complication one that catches up with people he's met in previous series that was great to see.

He also did one on Cornwall that is really worth a watch.

I am enjoying it too. Never read any of his books though.

He just doesn’t seem to age!

Big fan of SR here, iPlayer had his back catalogue

Also a big SR fan. I love his style of presenting and how he goes beyond the usual and expected.

I agree that "Step by Step" is a great read too.

His stuff is great. And he's hot. So there's that... 😁

How can you tell it's greenhouse grown? I buy a lot of Spanish veg from Lidl, but I've no idea how to find out about the growing conditions.

@biddyboo tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, aubergines, chillies, lettuce/salad leaves, courgettes anything that can't be grown in greenhouses in the UK during the winter months I imagine.

And celery, spring onions and radish. I grow all the above in my garden and greenhouse and either freeze to eat during the winter, go without or only buy from other countries like Holland when available.

I love SR and usually enjoy his programs but won't be watching the rest of the series after the first episode made me feel so upset and hopeless. I just hate seeing man destroying nature and animals suffering, all for greed. I understand the importance of these issues being covered and raising awareness but I am powerless to change anything and don't want to see it!

I adore Simon Reeve, he has such an engaging way of presenting. Even with everything he's seen he always seems in awe of what he sees and the people he meets.

I enjoyed this one as i backpacked the length of South America in my younger days but I did find it bleaker than his previous series.

No-one is entirely powerless though. We don't have to be like the amazing people he meets - just talking about what you've seen with others helps raise awareness. If there were specific issues that made you angry/upset, other people here might have concrete suggestions of very small-scale stuff. I'm no expert, but a start is writing to your MP to tell them how important these issues are. One letter is unlikely to make any difference, but if everyone who cares bothers to spend 3 mins on an email, the cumulative effect might echo somewhere.