Those who watched Forged in Fire, the History Channel competition series about metalworking, in its early years may be wondering where original host Wil Willis went after leaving the show. In the same vein as Netflix’s glass-blowing competition, Blown Away, the History Channel’s Forged in Fire sees four bladesmiths competing against one another to see who can craft the best bladed weapon. The show premiered in June 2015 and has been ongoing, lasting longer than similar “craft” reality shows thanks to its unique conceit and compelling personalities. After over a decade, Forged in Fire has gone through some structural changes.
Forged in Fire has even spawned a popular meme; it’s become so influential. One of the key components of the series is the host, Wil Willis. Willis is a former Army Ranger and a decorated Air Force para-rescue specialist with an affinity for weapons, particularly those used in medieval times. As a former host of the Military Channel (now American Heroes Channel) reality series Special Ops Mission and Triggers, Willis was an experienced selection for the role. Well-spoken and full of enthusiasm, Willis hosted Forged in Fire well from seasons 1-7, but just like that, he vanished in season 8.
While Willis has gone on to appear in other projects after his time hosting the series, it was never revealed directly on screen why he chose to leave the History Channel competition show. Viewers, even those who enjoy new host Grady Powell, are still curious about what happened to him.
Wil Willis Didn’t Give A Reason For Leaving Forged In Fire
Willis Left Before Season 8, A Few Months After His Son Was Born
Willis never actually stated why he left Forged in Fire when he departed from the show sometime after season 7 ended in August 2020 and before season 8 began in November 2020. But though he never divulged a reason, it’s likely that the birth of Willis and his wife, Krystle Amina’s, son, Flash Orion Willis, on March 6, 2020, was the deciding factor for his pivot away from the series (via Instagram). It’s very likely that with a new infant, Willis did not want to spend too much time away and film season 8 when he would rather be with his son.
According to Willis, the filming schedule for Forged in Fire was brutal. In an interview with the B3f podcast, Willis discussed how long filming even a single episode could take, saying, “[it could take] three to five days to film an episode.” Willis also mentioned that filming could be “boring“. The contestants are given three hours in the shortest challenges to forge their weapons, so there was likely a lot of standing around. Willis was likely burnt out from his time on the show, and with the arrival of his child, he had a good excuse to depart the series.
Where Wil Willis Is Now
Willis Posts On Social Media And Has Spoken About His Time On The Show
Those looking to catch up with Willis can join his followers on his Instagram account, @whiskey2whiskey. While he doesn’t post often, that doesn’t stop his followers from commenting that they miss Willis on the show. A military veteran, Willis typically posts about the profession. He also frequently uploads videos of his son Flash, which are always very popular as the father and son are a loving and cute pair together. Willis has not mentioned anything about returning to Forged in Fire, but as his son gets older, perhaps he’ll find time to return to the series.
How Forged In Fire Went On Without Wil Willis
Grady Powell Proved To Be A Suitable Replacement
There have been many reality TV shows that didn’t last long after the loss of a popular host. Fortunately for fans of Forged in Fire, the exit of Willis after season 7 wasn’t the death-knell for the unique competition series. Following Willis’ departure, the History channel drafted in an experienced host to be the new face of Forged in Fire — Grady Powell, who has hosted the show from season 8 onwards and remains in the position.
Like Willis, Grady Powell has a military background alongside his television experience. Whereas Willis is a former Army ranger, Powell served as a Green Beret. Prior to replacing Willis as the host of Forged in Fire, Powell had also starred on the Discovery Channel’s Dual Survival and American Grit. He also won the reality TV show Stars Earn Stripes with teammate Eve Torres, a WWE Divas champion.
As for which Forged in Fire host is best, fans of the show don’t seem to have a strong opinion either way. Both Willis and Powell bring their own unique spins to the show, but there are also many similarities between their hosting styles. While Willis was missed, Grady Powell proved to be an incredibly suitable replacement (as proved by the fact that Forged in Fire didn’t experience a drop in ratings or popularity following Willis’ exit).
What’s more, while the host is an important aspect of Forged in Fire, the judges are more significant as far as many fans are concerned. Some judges on the show, such as J. Neilson, have had incredibly divisive approaches as far as the fanbase is concerned. Ben Abbott making the transition from contestant to judge in season 4 was also met with skepticism, though he quickly proved his suitability for the role. So while Willis leaving Forged in Fire definitely marked a turning point for the show, it’s still not the most impactful change to the lineup.
