Charley Boorman

Charley Boorman is the epitome a modern-day adventurer, not to mention travel writer and entertainer. His charismatic “let’s just do it” approach to challenges has won him over to a massive TV and literary audience.

A little known fact is that although Charley has travelled around the world from early childhood, he spent a great deal of his youth in Wicklow in Ireland. He is the son of costume designer Christel Kruse and renowned film director John Boorman.

Thanks to his father he got an early start in the film business as a child actor, first appearing in Deliverance (1972) then returning to cinema in Excalibur (1981) and The Emerald Forest (1985) directed by his father. In Hope and Glory (1987), also directed by his father, Charlie appears in a non-speaking role as the young German Luftwaffe pilot shot down, parachuting into the small village. Other films include The Serpent's Kiss (1997) on which he met Ewan McGregor, and The Bunker (2001).

Long Way Round (2004) was a motorcycle trip from London to New York via Europe and Asia with Ewan McGregor in 2004. It was the realisation of a dream born out of two friends' love of motorbikes, the freedom of the open road, and the adrenaline rush of an extreme challenge.

This trip was recorded and then later made into a TV series, book and DVD. The series was shown around the world and the DVD and book became best sellers. It has now sold the world over into many territories including USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, France, Spain, and Italy.

Along with producer Russ Malkin (from Long Way Round) and a motorcycle team, Charley competed in the Dakar Rally in January 2006. The event was filmed and the series Race To Dakar began on Sky in the UK later that year.

During the rally Charley injured himself and was forced to retire from the race after five days. In May 2007, he started another journey with McGregor: this time taking part in Long Way Down - a trip from John O' Groats in Scotland, to Cape Town, South Africa. This was first televised on BBC2 in 2007.

2008 saw Charley embark on a solo adventure which has taken him all around the world – “By Any Means”. Starting in his home town in County Wicklow, Ireland and ending in Sydney, Australia. He set out to complete the journey "by any means" using local transportation appropriate to the area. He travelled the world on various forms of transportation using air travel only when necessary, accompanied only by his producer and cameraman.

In 2009, one year later, Charley commenced his second series of By Any Means - a trip that would take Charley and his team from Sydney to Tokyo via the Pacific Rim - from Freshwater Park on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and heading up to the Central Coast of NSW by motorbike.

An open invitation was issued for fellow motorcyclists to join him on this first leg - a local newspaper reported approximately 1500 riders took part. The trip ended on the Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo in August 2009 and was broadcast on BBC 2.

In 2010, Charley Boorman completed a UK-wide live tour, playing to capacity crowds... The tour was invited to visit many other countries to fulfil International demand for this best-selling Adventurer. In January 2011, Charley Boorman took part in a national live-event TV program (on behalf of his chosen Charity Unicef).

He become the winner of the inaugural Famous and Fearless program on Channel 4. And Charlie even came runner up in Celebrity Masterchef in 2014.

Cheeky, energetic, entertaining yet fallible, Charley Boorman has carved an impressive and successful career for himself, but what most people like about him when they meet him in person is his ordinary “one of the boys” attitude.

From corporate speaking engagements and bike festivals to theatre shows and filming, Charley Boorman has a pretty hectic schedule, but loves nothing more than the opportunity to talk to an audience about his varied career and wild biking adventurers.

A popular, in-demand and entertaining after dinner speaker, the first half of Charley’s talks are about his background and Hollywood days, which leads into the second half with his befriending of fellow actor Ewan McGregor (Train Spotting, Star Wars, Moulin Rouge) and the idea for the Long Way Round, plus their subsequent adventures.

With video, lots of great stories, anecdotes and the chance to meet with Charley afterwards for a selfie or autograph, Charley Boorman’s evenings are a must-see!

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Clients often ask about purchasing books for giveaways and delegate packs. Below you’ll find a selection of products by Charley Boorman. Click the images to view on Amazon's website. For bulk orders, please speak with your Booking Agent.