The Honest Truth: World’s Strongest Man gets bigger every year – and so do the competitors!

A British telly tradition at Christmas is World’s Strongest Man and this winter it celebrates its 40th year.

Producer and commentator Colin Bryce told Murray Scougall the Honest Truth about why we love watching big men pulling trucks as we eat mince pies.

Why do you think World’s Strongest Man is so popular?

It’s a contest that requires the ultimate in raw power but demands more of the athlete than humping heavy stuff.

Strength and sprinting are two of the base elements that are measurable in all of us – much like intelligence.

However, unlike a sprint or a spelling bee, flipping a real car with just your bare hands is so impressive to see that it’s astonishing.

We are celebrating 40 years of WSM – and this one is the Christmas cracker of the lot.

What’s your own background?

My first taste of strength athletics was thanks to my father (Laurie Bryce, who competed in the hammer throw at three Commonwealth Games). He was brought up on a farm in Drunzie, near Milnathort, Kinross-shire.

He followed on from my great uncle, who had the marvellous audacity to claim to be the world’s best in Highland Games-style wrestling of the day.

So donning a kilt, putting on a show, and hopefully being the best of the day were all ambitions from a young age.

How does it compare to other sports?

I competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in the bobsleigh, but what gave me most pleasure was finishing seventh in the final of Britain’s Strongest Man in 1997. The competitors weren’t just giants, they were entertainers.

I grew up around the Highland Games and seeing giants break strength records, stunning large crowds, was what I wanted to be involved in.

Has the competition changed since its early days?

The first event was held in Universal Studios in Florida. It’s come a long way in the past 40 years. Back then it was a vastly different affair, albeit still impressive. Although the events have changed a bit, the spectacle and showmanship are still there to be seen.

Also, the guys competing in it are, somehow, a lot bigger than back then.

Is the competition popular outside of the UK?

Currently the show is shown all over the world, but no country has quite embraced it as a Christmas tradition in the same way as the UK.

Who are the most memorable British competitors?

Geoff Capes is a two-time World’s Strongest Man and was a superstar. My father was a giant man and would regularly battle it out with Geoff. Then there’s Bill Anderson, arguably the greatest Highland Games athlete, although he wasn’t quite as successful on WSM.

Is the event ever likely to be held in the UK?

It is once again in a scorching hot country, Botswana, as it seems to be most years. Perhaps one day the WSM event will come to the UK. However, it’s difficult as the competition is more like a film set than a live sports contest.

Who should we look out for this year?

British star Eddie “The Beast” Hall is definitely one to watch after his third-place finish in 2016, despite a pretty significant injury. The other Brits include Laurence Shahlaei, Terry Hollands and Scotland’s two young giants – the Stoltman brothers, Luke and Tom. Younger brother Tom, measuring 6ft 6in tall, is no doubt a superstar of the future.

From further afield there’s a crop of contenders, including four-time World Strongest Man Brian Shaw and Zydrunas Savickas, as well as the single most decorated strength athlete in history to have the dubious honour of never winning the title, Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, who is truly desperate to fulfil a Viking destiny that weighs on his 6ft 9in, 30st Icelandic shoulders.

World’s Strongest Man starts on Boxing Day at 8pm on Channel 5.