Chief Scout and former SAS man Bear Grylls nearly became our US envoy, diplomatic sources claim_Nhy
TV adventurer Bear Grylls came within a whisker of becoming Britain’s Ambassador to Washington, diplomatic sources have claimed.
He is said to have been on a shortlist of three for the job, which went to former Labour minister Peter Mandelson.
The other candidate is understood to have been former chancellor George Osborne.
Grylls, 50, an Old Etonian former SAS soldier who became Chief Scout, is well known in America through his programme Man vs Wild.
TV personality Bear Grylls was in the running to be British ambassador to the US, sources have claimed
Former Labour minister Lord Mandelson, who was picked for the job, once called Donald Trump a ‘danger to the world’
Former Tory chancellor George Osborne was also one of three shortlisted for the role
Lord Mandelson’s appointment was mired in controversy because he once called Donald Trump a ‘danger to the world’.
When Grylls was asked if he had been ‘tapped up’ for the job, he said: ‘I’ve got to honour privacy.
‘This is a golden chance for a positive reset with the US. Let’s hope Lord Mandelson can work with President Trump.’
Mr Osborne declined to comment last night.
