Unlike many nature documentaries, new National Geographic series Hostile Planet will not "sugarcoat or sanitise" how ruthless Mother Nature can be, says host Bear Grylls.

The famous British survivalist says some of the resilient creatures featured on the show, which spotlights how species adapt to the most extreme environments on Earth, put his survival skills to shame. In doing so, it will remind viewers "that nature is brutal, tough and unforgiving", he adds.