HIS latest TV series, The Island, has caused widespread controversy and allegations of fakery.

But adventurer Bear Grylls was to be found on a less exotic island in the Hebrides this week, together with Hollywood actor Ben Stiller.

The pair headed to the Isle of Skye to film a new outdoor series which involved them surviving for a night in the spectacular Spar Cave on the island.

They also took a trip on a seaplane, headed into the Cuillins mountain range and visited the Talisker whisky distillery during the three day visit.

Also on the island around the same time was fellow TV survival expert Ray Mears filming new programmes called Wild Britain.

It is believed Grylls and Stiller were filming Get Out Alive, a new NBC reality adventure series.

"This is our biggest show we have ever done and we have almost chosen the final 20 people that I am taking to the wild," wrote Grylls on his blog recently.

The film company hired Skye firm Bella Jane Boat Trips to take Grylls and Stiller to Spar Cave at Elgol.

"It is a truly spectacular ­location but not easy to reach," said company owner David Brown. "They were very chatty and seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"They both stayed in the cave overnight and then departed by seaplane. I think they chose Skye because it is a wonderful outdoor location and is so picturesque.

"I know they also went into the mountains to do some filming and were here for a couple of days."

It is not the first time that Grylls and Stiller have worked together, having previously joined forces on Man vs Wild. During his career Stiller has written, starred in, directed, and/or produced over 50 films, including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Zoolander, There's Something About Mary, Meet the Parents, DodgeBall, Tropic Thunder, the Madagascar series and Night at the Museum.

Meanwhile Channel 4 says it has received almost 40,000 applications from people who want to take part in its Bear Grylls survival series, despite accusations of fakery and complaints after contestants were shown having enemas on screen.

The Island, in which a group of men go back to nature to cope with the rigours of life as a hunter-gatherer on a desert island, has proved a popular draw with more than three million viewers.

The show attracted fakery claims after it was revealed that four of the "13 ordinary men" marooned on the island were TV professionals with experience of survival.