
Simon Reeve – Biography, Tour, Books, and Net Worth
Simon Reeve is a British author, adventurer, documentary filmmaker, and television presenter best known for his BBC travel and current-affairs documentaries. Over two decades, he has travelled to more than 130 countries and made more than 100 programmes, combining adventure with environmental and conservation themes. He has also built a successful live theatre career, with his current tour “To The Ends Of The Earth” running through 2026.
Born Simon Alan Reeve on 21 July 1972, he left school with one GCSE and later worked at The Sunday Times before becoming a documentary presenter. A May 2025 interview described his turbulent childhood and revealed he considered suicide at 17. He now divides his time between London and Devon with his wife Anya and their son.
Reeve has received multiple awards, including recognition from the One World Broadcasting Trust and the Royal Geographical Society. In 2023, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from the University of London. His autobiography Step by Step became a Sunday Times bestseller and was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Award.
Simon Reeve Now
Who is Simon Reeve?
British TV presenter, adventurer, author; born 21 July 1972; travelled to 130+ countries; known for BBC documentary series.
What is he doing now?
Currently on a theatre tour called “To the Ends of the Earth” with dates extending into 2025; active on social media.
What books has he written?
Several books including Tropic of Capricorn, The Indian Ocean, and his bestselling autobiography Step by Step.
What is his net worth?
Not publicly disclosed; estimates vary; no official figure confirmed.
- Simon Reeve is a long-standing BBC travel presenter with a loyal audience.
- His current theatre tour is his first major live event, reflecting a shift from television to stage.
- There is no confirmed information about a serious illness; the topic appears in search queries without credible sources.
- His family life includes wife Anya Reeve; children are mentioned in queries but not publicly confirmed by sources provided.
- His books have appeared on bestseller lists of both The Sunday Times and The New York Times.
- He has received multiple awards including an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from the University of London.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Simon Alan Reeve |
| Born | 21 July 1972 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Author, journalist, adventurer, TV presenter |
| Spouse | Anya Reeve (married) |
| Children | One son, named Jake (aged 13 in May 2025) |
| Notable Series | BBC’s Indian Ocean, Tropic of Capricorn, Equator, Mediterranean, Wilderness, North America / The Americas |
| Website | simonreeve.co.uk |
| Height | 6′ 3¼″ (1.91 m) per IMDb; not officially confirmed |
| Education | Left school with one GCSE |
| Residence | Divides time between London and Devon |
| Awards | One World Broadcasting Trust, Royal Geographical Society, Honorary Doctorate in Literature (2023) |
Simon Reeve Tour
Reeve has presented two live theatre shows. His first tour ran from 2018 to 2020. The second, titled “To The Ends Of The Earth”, began in autumn 2023 and has been extended multiple times. According to his official bio, it is now due to finish in 2026.
Search results show the tour scheduled across May 2025 to May 2026. His Instagram account also references May 2025 theatre tour dates. The tour represents a significant shift from television to stage, leveraging his public speaking and storytelling skills.
The “To The Ends Of The Earth” theatre tour began in autumn 2023, was extended multiple times, and is now due to finish in 2026. Dates are available on his official website and Instagram.
What to expect from the tour
Reeve’s live shows combine his travel experiences with storytelling, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look at his adventures. The tour has been well-received, with multiple extensions reflecting strong demand.
Simon Reeve Books
Reeve has written several books, including The New Jackals (1998), One Day in September (2005), and Tropic of Capricorn (2007). His autobiography Step by Step was published in autumn 2018 and became a bestseller, reaching the Sunday Times Top 10 and being shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Award.
His books have appeared on the bestseller lists of both The Sunday Times and The New York Times. The autobiography covers his journey from a difficult childhood to becoming a world-travelling presenter.
For those interested in his personal story, Step by Step offers the most comprehensive account of his life and career, including his turbulent childhood and his path to becoming a BBC presenter.
Simon Reeve Net Worth
No reliable source provides Simon Reeve’s net worth. Any specific figure would be speculative without a credible financial source. Third-party sites may estimate but lack primary sources. His income likely comes from his BBC documentaries, book sales, and theatre tours, but exact figures are not publicly available.
His official website and Wikipedia serve as primary sources for biographical facts, but neither includes financial information. The absence of verified data means any net worth claim should be treated with caution.
Simon Reeve Illness
No credible source reports any ongoing public illness. The only health-related material concerns his past suicidal thoughts as a teenager and a fertility issue in which doctors told him he was infertile before he later had a son. He continues to perform tours and post regularly on social media, indicating good health.
Search queries about illness may originate from speculation or confusion with another person named Simon. There is no evidence of any current health problems affecting his work or public appearances.
A Telegraph interview in May 2025 revealed Reeve had a turbulent childhood and considered suicide at 17. He has spoken openly about this period, which adds context to his personal journey. He was also told by doctors that he was infertile before later having a son.
Simon Reeve Children
Simon Reeve and his wife Anya have one son. A Telegraph article named their son Jake and said he was 13 at the time of publication in May 2025. The family divides time between London and Devon.
Anya Reeve (née Courts) is described as a television camera operator and campaigner. One source says she has stood as a Green Party candidate. She maintains a relatively low public profile but appears occasionally in Simon’s social media posts.
Family timeline
- 1972 – Born in London
- 1990s – Early journalism career at The Sunday Times
- 2000s – First major travel documentaries for BBC
- 2009 – Tropic of Capricorn series
- 2012 – Indian Ocean series
- 2018 – Mediterranean series; autobiography Step by Step published; first theatre tour begins
- 2023 – Announces “To the Ends of the Earth” theatre tour; receives Honorary Doctorate in Literature
- 2024–2025 – Tour extended into 2025; Scandinavia with Simon Reeve airs
- 2025–2026 – Tour continues; Wilderness with Simon Reeve series two TBA
What is known and what remains unclear
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Full name: Simon Alan Reeve | Net worth: No verified figures exist |
| Born 21 July 1972 | Height: IMDb lists 6′ 3¼″ but not officially confirmed |
| Married to Anya Reeve | Illness: No credible source reports any ongoing illness |
| One son named Jake (aged 13 in 2025) | Children: Public record is sparse beyond one son |
| Travelled to 130+ countries | Future projects: Exact timeline for new documentaries not confirmed |
| Current tour “To The Ends Of The Earth” through 2026 | Income sources: No breakdown of earnings from TV, books, or tours |
Background and context
Simon Reeve is part of a generation of British travel presenters who combine adventure with documentary storytelling. His BBC work is described as combining travel with environmental, wildlife, and conservation themes. His recent series Wilderness was the highest-rating factual show on BBC Two for two years, according to his agency.
His move to a stage tour marks a new phase in his career, leveraging his public speaking and storytelling skills. The interest in his personal life reflects common audience curiosity about public figures, though much remains private. His official website and Wikipedia serve as primary sources for biographical facts, while social media provides current updates.
For those interested in travel and destinations, his documentaries offer a unique perspective on global issues. You might also enjoy exploring Barcelona Things to Do or The Land of Legends Turkey for more travel inspiration.
Sources and quotes
“Simon Alan Reeve (born 21 July 1972) is an English author, journalist, adventurer, documentary filmmaker and television presenter.”
“Simon Reeve is an adventurer and bestselling author and TV presenter who has travelled to more than 130 countries making multiple award-winning TV series.”
“These are the final dates for my To the Ends of the Earth theatre tour…”
“Simon Reeve is an adventurer, author and television presenter who has travelled to more than 130 countries making dozens of award-winning TV series for the BBC.”
Summary: What’s next for Simon Reeve?
Simon Reeve continues his theatre tour through 2025 and 2026, with dates available on his official website and Instagram. Potential new TV projects or book releases may emerge based on his recent travels. There are no announced retirement or health-related breaks. His documentary work continues, with Scandinavia with Simon Reeve airing in 2025 and a second series of Wilderness listed as TBA. For more travel content, check out Barcelona Things to Do.
Frequently asked questions
What is Simon Reeve’s height?
His height is not officially listed. IMDb lists it as 6′ 3¼″ (1.91 m), but there is no authoritative confirmation from official sources.
Who is Anya Reeve?
Anya Reeve is Simon Reeve’s wife. She is a television camera operator and campaigner, and one source says she has stood as a Green Party candidate.
Does Simon Reeve have children?
Yes, he has one son named Jake, who was 13 in May 2025 according to a Telegraph article.
Is Simon Reeve ill?
No credible sources report any ongoing illness. He continues to perform tours and post regularly on social media, indicating good health.
What is Simon Reeve’s net worth?
No reliable source provides his net worth. Any specific figure would be speculative without a credible financial source.
What books has Simon Reeve written?
His books include The New Jackals (1998), One Day in September (2005), Tropic of Capricorn (2007), and the bestselling autobiography Step by Step (2018).
What is Simon Reeve’s current tour?
His current theatre tour is called “To The Ends Of The Earth”. It began in autumn 2023 and has been extended into 2026.
How many countries has Simon Reeve visited?
He has travelled to more than 130 countries over two decades of making documentaries for the BBC.
What awards has Simon Reeve won?
He has received recognition from the One World Broadcasting Trust, the Royal Geographical Society, and an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from the University of London in 2023.
What is Simon Reeve’s latest documentary?
His recent work includes Scandinavia with Simon Reeve (2025) and Wilderness, which was the highest-rating factual show on BBC Two for two years.