Leading mountain climber relives the heights in Horsham talk

A spokesman said: “Considered one of the all-time best adventure climbers, Leo Houlding is renowned for audacious ascents of some of the world’s toughest climbs – from Everest/Chomolungma to the most remote mountain on the planet, Spectre – and now brings a new audience with… style lecture show Closer to the Edge to theatres across the UK, celebrating the launch of Leo’s first book, also titled Closer to the Edge. A climbing prodigy, who started by scaling the Old Man of Hoy at just ten years old and becoming the British Junior Indoor Climbing Champion at sixteen, 42-year-old Leo has climbed the most difficult and highest mountains in the world. A veteran of scores of epic ascents, Leo specialises in free climbing the most technical peaks and biggest walls on the planet. Leo epitomises 21st-century exploration by taking modern action sports to the most remote corners and extreme environments on earth.

“Leo has captivated and inspired audiences with his tales of extreme adventure and adrenalin-fuelled exploits. He famously raced and beat Jeremy Clarkson on BBC's Top Gear, took the role of Sandy Irvine in the IMAX movie The Wildest Dream, retracing the last steps of Mallory and Irvine on their fateful 1924 Everest expedition, using clothing and kit from the same era, and has hosted adventure TV shows including Fierce Earth on BBC and Lost Worlds on Discovery.

“Leo has also produced and featured in many multi-award-winning adventure movies including The Asgard Project, The Prophet and The Last Great Climb, earning the respect of peers and engaged amongst outdoor enthusiasts around the world. Leo has also hit media headlines over the past couple of years after taking his young family on some more adventurous summer holidays than most where together they have climbed some seriously impressive routes that would leave many experienced climbers looking on in awe, yet teach Leo’s young children about assessing risk. In Closer to the Edge, Leo offers a brief overview of his life so far before following on from his previous best-selling 2019 tour, The Spectre Expedition, bringing audiences up to date with his audacious expeditions, including his more recent ascent of Mount Roraima, the high, rain forest-engulfed South American plateau which inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World. Leo’s first book Closer to the Edge, which will be released to coincide with this theatre tour, given the significant crossover between the two, is a warts-and-all insight into the life of an extreme climber. In a page-turning narrative, Leo describes his childhood climbing inspirations, his mentors and the exhilaration of those teenage years when he broke into the public consciousness.”

Tickets on 01403 750220 or thecapitolhorsham.com.