Monty Halls
Encyclopedia
Monty Halls TV Broadcaster and Explorer. Best known for his BBC Great Escape series, Monty Halls' Great Escape, Monty Halls' Great Hebridean Escape and Monty Halls' Great Irish Escape {Tigress Productions] where he lived and worked in remote parts of the UK and Ireland with his dog and best friend Reuben. Monty Halls' other TV programmes - “Great Ocean Adventures”, co-produced by RDF Television
, Channel Five, Scubazoo and Animal Planet
and “Perfect Weapon” for the National Geographic Channel
. He has also led a number of diving
expeditions. He was an Expedition Leader for the marine conservation charity; Coral Cay Conservation.
officer. His time in the Marines included a stint in the British Military Assistance and Training Team in South Africa
, where he assisted with the integration of former ANC
guerrillas into the South African Army
.
At 29, having left the Marines
, Halls decided to study Marine Biology
at the University of Plymouth
where he got involved with projects including the underwater filming of a rare species of crocodile
, in Belize
in partnership with the Natural History Museum
. He graduated with a First Class Honours degree in 1999. More recently he has been concentrating on his television work.
. In 2008 he co-hosted a National Geographic
series, “Perfect Weapon
”, looking at aspects of medieval weaponry.In 2008 Monty Halls left his home in Bristol for Applecross on the west coast of Scotland for the first of the three BBC 'Great Escape' series - "Monty Halls' Great Escape", where he tried to recreate the life of crofters for 6 months. In 2009 Monty then left for the Outer Hebrides to live and work as a nature warden on North Uist for six months. 2010 saw Monty live for six months in Connemara working with Irish Whale & Dolphin Conservation Group (IWDG) for six months. All of these series featured his popular dog Reuben.
(India
), researched by Graham Hancock
, and discovered 6 temples, which are still being explored.
Jason Ward
RM
was killed in a helicopter crash on 21 March 2003, the second day of the Iraq War (Operation Telic
). Halls supports military charities, in particular he is a Patron
of Help for Heroes
, a charity committed to improving the facilities for injured servicemen and women. As a marine biologist he naturally supports charities associated with the marine environment, and is also a Patron
of Shark Trust
.
.
. He writes a regular column for “Dive Magazine” in the UK.
In December 2010 Halls was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree by the University of Plymouth
RDF Media
Zodiak Media is a Anglo-American television production company. It was formed in 2010 when RDF Media Group was acquired by, and merged with Zodiak Entertainment...
, Channel Five, Scubazoo and Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
and “Perfect Weapon” for the National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel (UK)
The National Geographic Channel is a television channel that features documentaries produced by the National Geographic Society. It features some programming similar to that on the Discovery Channel such as nature and science documentaries. The channel was launched in Europe in September 1997 and...
. He has also led a number of diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
expeditions. He was an Expedition Leader for the marine conservation charity; Coral Cay Conservation.
Background
Halls attended Bedstone College, after which he was commissioned as a Royal MarinesRoyal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
officer. His time in the Marines included a stint in the British Military Assistance and Training Team in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where he assisted with the integration of former ANC
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
guerrillas into the South African Army
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
.
At 29, having left the Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
, Halls decided to study Marine Biology
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
at the University of Plymouth
University of Plymouth
Plymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...
where he got involved with projects including the underwater filming of a rare species of crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
, in Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
in partnership with the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
. He graduated with a First Class Honours degree in 1999. More recently he has been concentrating on his television work.
Television host
In 2005, he presented a nine-part TV series called “Great Ocean Adventures” (Channel 5). A second series was broadcast in 2007. Memorable moments include Monty diving among a large number of Giant Humboldt SquidHumboldt Squid
The Humboldt squid , also known as jumbo squid, jumbo flying squid, pota or diablo rojo , is a large, predatory squid found in the waters of the Humboldt Current in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. They are most commonly found at depths of , from Tierra del Fuego to California...
. In 2008 he co-hosted a National Geographic
National Geographic Channel (UK)
The National Geographic Channel is a television channel that features documentaries produced by the National Geographic Society. It features some programming similar to that on the Discovery Channel such as nature and science documentaries. The channel was launched in Europe in September 1997 and...
series, “Perfect Weapon
Perfect Weapon
Perfect Weapon is a British TV series for the National Geographic Channel. It features the 2 hosts: ex-Royal Marine Monty Halls and archaeologist and medieval weapons expert Stuart Prior choosing a weapon for the current episode's category....
”, looking at aspects of medieval weaponry.In 2008 Monty Halls left his home in Bristol for Applecross on the west coast of Scotland for the first of the three BBC 'Great Escape' series - "Monty Halls' Great Escape", where he tried to recreate the life of crofters for 6 months. In 2009 Monty then left for the Outer Hebrides to live and work as a nature warden on North Uist for six months. 2010 saw Monty live for six months in Connemara working with Irish Whale & Dolphin Conservation Group (IWDG) for six months. All of these series featured his popular dog Reuben.
Expedition Leader
In 2002 Halls led a group of adventurers and scientists (from the Scientific Exploration Society) to the sunken city of Mahabalipuram off Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
(India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
), researched by Graham Hancock
Graham Hancock
Graham Hancock is a British writer and journalist. Hancock specialises in unconventional theories involving ancient civilizations, stone monuments or megaliths, altered states of consciousness, ancient myths and astronomical/astrological data from the past...
, and discovered 6 temples, which are still being explored.
Charity work
With his background as an ex-Marine and deeply moved when his close friend and best man, MajorMajor
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Jason Ward
British fatalities during Operation Telic
Operation Telic was the codename for British operations in Iraq, which lasted from 19 March 2003 to 22 May 2011. During the campaign, 179 British service personnel died and many more were wounded...
RM
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
was killed in a helicopter crash on 21 March 2003, the second day of the Iraq War (Operation Telic
Operation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
). Halls supports military charities, in particular he is a Patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
of Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes is a British charity launched on 1 October 2007 to help provide better facilities for British servicemen and women wounded since September 11, 2001. It was founded by Bryn Parry OBE and his wife Emma Parry OBE after they visited soldiers at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham...
, a charity committed to improving the facilities for injured servicemen and women. As a marine biologist he naturally supports charities associated with the marine environment, and is also a Patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
of Shark Trust
Shark Trust
Shark Trust is a charitable organization founded in the UK in 1997"dedicated to promoting the study, management, and conservation of sharks,skates and rays in the UK and internationally."....
.
Monty Halls and The Underwater Channel
Halls is one of the 7 faces of The Underwater Channel. He is based predominately in the UK for The Underwater Channel and will be co-presenting our originally-produced monthly Underwater Channel program with Miranda KrestovnikoffMiranda Krestovnikoff
Miranda Jane Krestovnikoff is a British television presenter specialising in natural history and archaeological programmes. She is also a qualified diver which has led to co-presenting opportunities in programmes with an underwater element.Miranda went to The Abbey School in Reading before taking...
.
TV Shows (UK names shown)
- Contestant and winner of Superhuman (2004) on Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. - Great Ocean Adventures (Season 1, nine episodes in 2005).
- Great Ocean Adventures (Season 2, eight episodes 2007).
- Perfect WeaponPerfect WeaponPerfect Weapon is a British TV series for the National Geographic Channel. It features the 2 hosts: ex-Royal Marine Monty Halls and archaeologist and medieval weapons expert Stuart Prior choosing a weapon for the current episode's category....
(Six episodes in 2008). - Monty Halls' Great EscapeMonty Halls' Great EscapeMonty Halls' Great Escape is a British television programme broadcast on BBC Two from 1 March 2009...
(BBC TwoBBC TwoBBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, from 1 March 2009) - Monty Halls' Great Hebridean EscapeMonty Halls' Great EscapeMonty Halls' Great Escape is a British television programme broadcast on BBC Two from 1 March 2009...
(BBC TwoBBC TwoBBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, from 21 April 2010) - Monty Halls' Great Irish EscapeMonty Halls' Great EscapeMonty Halls' Great Escape is a British television programme broadcast on BBC Two from 1 March 2009...
(BBC TwoBBC TwoBBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, from 11 August 2011)
Writing
Monty Halls has written a number of books about divingScuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
. He writes a regular column for “Dive Magazine” in the UK.
Awards
In 2003 Halls was awarded the Bish Medal by the "Scientific Exploration Society" for his services to exploration.In December 2010 Halls was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree by the University of Plymouth
See also
- The Underwater Channel
- Marine biologyMarine biologyMarine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
- Help for HeroesHelp for HeroesHelp for Heroes is a British charity launched on 1 October 2007 to help provide better facilities for British servicemen and women wounded since September 11, 2001. It was founded by Bryn Parry OBE and his wife Emma Parry OBE after they visited soldiers at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham...
- Shark TrustShark TrustShark Trust is a charitable organization founded in the UK in 1997"dedicated to promoting the study, management, and conservation of sharks,skates and rays in the UK and internationally."....