Ray Mears: 'You won’t see me on I’m a Celebrity – I’ve done all those things for real’

The woodsman and TV presenter, 57, on trademarking his name, surviving a helicopter crash and planning for the worst

I grew up in the analogue age and feel very privileged. It encouraged me to look outside for stimulus and fostered a degree of self-reliance that we've lost. But I do think children today are given more reign to be themselves. My generation was not inspired to have spirit in a way you see so much now.

After I left school, I went to work in London. I can't even remember what I did. I was in an office with 20 other people and everybody smoked. It was horrible and probably spurred me to go and work outdoors.