Telford lorry driver goes back to the Stone Age for TV show

Dave joined 23 modern day Brits on the adventure for Channel 5.

But it was no jolly, with the group members experiencing dehydration, extreme weight loss and even near-death experiences.

Dave, of Stirchley, Telford, took on the harsh extremes of Bulgaria during the filming of the survival show 10,000BC: Two Tribes, which starts tomorrow.

The 10-part series was shot in a remote area during the summer and explores whether a group of everyday people can survive the experience for two testing months.

The show follows two groups who enter the landscape, initially unbeknown to each other, and they are forced to compete for the scarce resources and rustic shelters while learning how to fish, forage and hunt in order to survive.

Father-of-two Dave, who was part of 'Cray Tribe', hunts for a hobby and has been shooting rabbits, squirrels and magpies since he was 14.

The 47-year-old naturally fell into the role of the hunter, tracking wild boar and deer, to help his tribe survive.

He said: "All of us needed to hunt to survive and I was pleased to put what I knew into practice. I have been shooting for 30 years.

"We went on hunting trips but we also had to forage for fruit and nuts.

"I was looking for an experience of a lifetime. You wonder whether or not you will be able to survive in that kind of situation.

"It was a bit of any eye-opener. It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be."

Extreme temperatures, dramatic thunder and hail storms and a hungry pack of jackals also faced the tribes, who had no contact with the outside world.

Before stepping on camp, the adventurers were stripped of their comfortable clothing, mobile phones and anything else associated with a modern lifestyle.

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Mr Newdell said: "It was quite a detaching experience. It's almost like you are putting your life on hold. You are not too sure what to expect.

"I found it really difficult being so completely detached from my family."

He said coming face-to-face with members of the 'Snake Tribe' came as a shock, adding: "There were mixed emotions.

"It was difficult knowing what was the best thing to do.

"I think this experience has changed me.

"It makes you realise that people around you, your family and friends, are worth their weight in gold."

The show first aired last year and saw 20 everyday people from all walks of life challenged to live like cavemen and women.

For the second series, a total of 24 modern day Brits will be seen facing the same harsh extremes of TV's toughest social experiment.

But the new run takes a turn as the contestants are split across two tribes, each unknown to the other at the start.

They are shown through the series having to compete for the scarce resources the wild has to offer, from food to materials for shelters.

10,000BC: Two Tribes will air on Channel 5 at 10pm tomorrow.