Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild - Season 20

Ben travels to Eastern Europe to meet Brits Jordan, Lewis, and their two children, who are at the start of their new life, undertaking an ambitious renovation of a dilapidated farmhouse in a Bulgarian village. With the country's population on the decline, Ben is curious about their choice to settle there, especially since they purchased the property before ever seeing it. As he helps Lewis to plaster walls and Jordan to repurpose old items from the local dump, Ben uncovers the couple's challenging pasts and gains a deep understanding of how crucial this fresh start is for their family. 

Ben heads into the forests of northern New South Wales to meet Jimmy, an American photographer living alone. Jimmy shares his story of coming out to family and friends, and how meeting his late husband Richard inspired them to start a new life together in the wild. Ben learns that Jimmy has faced multiple tragedies since leaving urban America for rural Australia. Bereavement and unprecedented natural disasters have taken a significant toll on him, prompting Ben to wonder why Jimmy has chosen to remain in the wild alone. 

Ben ventures into the snowy mountains of Piedmont, Italy, where he meets Father Johannes, an Austrian priest living as a hermit. Ben is given a tour of the clergyman's tiny home, complete with its own chapel, and is surprised to find they have more in common than he expected. Ben learns how Johannes manages to live such an isolated life while still fulfilling his duties as a priest. Together, they clear trees, lift rocks, and use a jackhammer to dismantle an old wall. As their bond deepens, Ben questions Johannes about the church's recent troubled history and discovers how he is using his remote existence to help restore its reputation. 

Ben embarks on an epic journey to meet one of the most remote families he's ever encountered, uncovering what drove academics and married couple Bec and Reece to leave civilisation for complete isolation. Ben ventures deep into the Sturt Desert to Fort Grey, a former homestead now serving as the offgrid headquarters for an ambitious project aimed at revitalising the desolate Australian wilderness. There, he discovers that Bec and Reece are not only raising a young family but also managing a demanding workload. He witnesses how the couple is restoring the landscape to its former glory but is then shocked to learn that their future in the wild is far from certain.

Ben travels to one of the USA's most unique towns, Roswell. Famous for its alleged UFO landing, he leaves the alien tourism behind and ventures into the surrounding desert. There, he meets Karen, a 70-year-old former sports journalist who, at first glance, seems to be struggling with everyday life. A bike accident has made it challenging to maintain her desert home due to her mobility issues. Determined to assist his host, Ben rolls up his sleeves, clearing muck, shovelling hay, and even scaling a 10-metre-high windmill. As they spend more time together, Ben learns about the hardships Karen has faced throughout her life. However, their conversations inspire Karen to undertake something extraordinary.

On the Isle of Wight, Ben meets Gav, Lucy, and their son Bo, who have carved out their own slice of wilderness on a cliffside. Ben is captivated by their stunning sea view and the permaculture principles the family has embraced. He pitches in with caring for the goats and shovelling mulch. Gav opens up to Ben about hitting rock bottom in his youth and how meeting Lucy inspired him to turn his life around. However, their dream of living an organic and simple life has faced numerous legal challenges from sceptical neighbours over the years. And their situation becomes even more precarious when it's revealed that their clifftop home is at serious risk of a landslide. 

Ben ventures to the rugged, desolate beauty of Utah's Canyonlands, where he meets Scott, a man who has built his off-grid home from the ground up. Scott leads a reclusive life, opening his doors to others on his own terms, as he dedicates his time to preparing for an uncertain future. As their friendship deepens, Scott gradually shares fragments of his past with Ben. As the pair fix roads and move rocks, Scott unveils a recent profound personal loss he has been grappling with. Ben witnesses Scott's remarkable resilience and the way he honours the memories of those who have shaped his journey. 

Ben heads to the African continent to visit former army officer and TV adventurer Mark. Along with his Argentinian wife Ayelen, he has spent the past 17 years building a stunning home on the Moroccan coast while also raising two young children. Ben learns of the struggles of their build and how they face an everworsening situation with drought. 

Ben journeys to Spain to meet 50-year-old free spirit Nara, who has spent most of his adult life without modern conveniences like shoes, toothbrushes, and flushing toilets. Nara, a nomadic soul, moves between intentional communities and introduces Ben to his unique lifestyle. As Ben spends time with his eccentric host, it becomes clear that Nara lives by his own set of rules. Through their conversations, Ben learns how Nara's unconventional childhood shaped his distinctive outlook on life. 

Ben's journey takes him to an off-grid home nestled deep in the forests of Canton, Maine. Here, he meets Arthur, a hunter-gatherer with a PhD in botany, along with his two daughters, Samara (11) and Fera (4), and his girlfriend, Kelly. Arthur has spent the past decade building a community of like-minded individuals inspired by local Native American cultures and the traditions of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. During his stay, Ben witnesses how Arthur's ideology is passed down to his daughters. Ben also discovers Arthur's unique parenting style, treating children of all ages as adults. This approach has fostered extraordinary mental fortitude in his daughters, helping them cope with a tragic personal loss.