Bear Grylls ‘helped baptise Russell Brand’ in River Thames

Bear Grylls helped baptise Russell Brand in the River Thames, the comedian has claimed.

Brand thanked Grylls for assisting with the religious ceremony in a post on social media.

He wrote: “I want to thank Bear Grylls and my mate Joe, the two men that stood either side of me and flanked me for the baptism itself.

“Week one as a Christian has been amazing. The ceremony itself was incredible.”

The comedian and actor who lives in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, said: “It was an incredible, profound experience and something occurred in the process of baptism that was incredible.

“It was overwhelming, literally overwhelming because I was obviously underwater, and it was the River Thames at some points. This is my path now. And I already feel incredibly blessed, relieved, nourished, held.”

He continued: “There were incredible and bizarre incidents that took place and it felt serendipitous.”

Last year, the 48-year-old was twice interviewed by police in connection with historic sex offence allegations following a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches. There have been no arrests, and Brand has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

‘Jesus was wild and loved a party’

Bear Grylls is one of the most prominent Christians in the UK and has appeared in campaigns for Alpha course, an evangelical Christianity programme that claims to have recruited 29 million people to the faith.

As part of the Apple TV+ series Running Wild with Bear Grylls, Brand trekked across the Hebrides with the survival expert last year. It was not known that Grylls was assisting Brand with a conversion to Christianity at the time.

Brand and Grylls formed a friendship during the show, with the comedian opening up about his failed marriage to singer Katy Perry, describing their relationship as “chaotic”.

Speaking about the difference between faith and religion, Grylls has previously said: “I meet so many people who don’t want ‘religion’ as such.

“I get it. I feel the same. And, in fact, so did Jesus, the heart of all Christian faith. Faith and religion are not the same thing.

“The Jesus I read about in the Bible was fun, free and wild. He loved a party and he always hung out with the non-religious folk. The only people he ever got angry with were the overly religious types.”

Grylls, who was appointed chief scout in 2009, was invited to the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and attended King Charles’s Coronation. He has also patronised several events with the Princess of Wales, the joint president of the Scout Association.

Grylls told the Daily Mail: “Faith and spiritual moments in our lives are really personal, but it is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above.

“Friendships when we go through tough times are worth so much.”

Grylls has been contacted by The Telegraph for comment.