Ex-drug mule Michaella McCollum signed up to Celebrity SAS to ‘push myself'
McCollum, from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, in Northern Ireland, was caught trying to smuggle 24lb (11kg) of cocaine worth £1.5 million out of Peru with accomplice Melissa Reid in 2013.
The pair, known as the 'Peru Two', were jailed for six years and eight months after admitting the crime but were freed in 2016 after striking a deal with Peruvian authorities.
McCollum told ITV's This Morning: 'Reality type TV series, I've never really been interested in doing anything like that, but I think SAS, there's no other show like that. The moment of the arrest (Image: Mirror Screen Grab)
'So I thought it would be a really good way to test myself and try and push myself and do something completely different.
'So it was the one show I was like, you know what? I feel like I've been pushed to my limit through other experiences. Why not try this? Never in my life am I gonna face these type of challenges.'
The Channel 4 reality spin-off series follows 14 famous faces as they endure special forces training in an attempt to make it through SAS selection.
McCollum said: 'I did that show for me. I wanted to improve myself and push myself. It wasn't, 'I'm doing this because I want people to like me.''
Asked if she was worried about being subject to scrutiny, she said: 'Not really, because I know that's always going to exist.
'And any kind of decisions and things I make, there's always that kind of scrutiny. So I thought, whether I do the show, there'll always be some kind of talk about that.'
Speaking about what it was like to stay in prison, she said: 'It's obviously extreme, but I feel like I was incredibly adaptable, like I just kind of got along with it.
'And I think for the first part, I felt so guilty and bad. I kind of just thought: 'OK, I deserve it. I'll just suck it up. I'll just get along with it.'
'But I feel like it made me an amazing person. I came back when I was 23.'
Among the other famous faces taking part in the programme are professional boxer Conor Benn, S Club star Hannah Spearritt and the first celebrity deaf recruit, Love Island star Tasha Ghouri.
Airing across eight one-hour episodes, the seventh series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins will be available to watch on Channel 4 every Sunday and Monday from 9pm starting on August 3.
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The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Jess Wright on Michelle Keegan's daughter ‘princess' Palma, her son's shock diagnosis & THAT poisonous family rivalry
BEING part of a big (and successful) family is not always easy. Having high-achieving siblings often means you feel like you are being left behind – and no one knows that more than Jessica Wright. 10 Jess Wright on how becoming parents has changed her relationship with brother Mark, and why she regrets her boob job Credit: Mark Hayman 10 Jess said: 'We've done well for ourselves as a family, so why try to tear us down?' Credit: Mark Hayman The 39-year-old rose to fame as an original member of The Only Way Is Essex cast in October 2010, alongside brother Mark, 38. Then there's youngest brother And of course, there's Mark's wife and Jessica's sister-in-law Michelle Keegan in the mix, too. So, it's no surprise she feels more pressure than most. 'I'm quite driven by my family,' she admits. 'Everyone is really ambitious [laughs]. And, obviously, Mark's really successful. Joshua is successful in what he does. Natalya's smashing it with her stuff. So you're always like: 'God, am I doing enough?' I'm really hard on myself. I always think I'm not doing well enough. We've done well for ourselves as a family, so why try to tear us down? Jessica Wright 'I wake up in the morning thinking about my career. This industry is tough, TV is really hard to come by these days. You've got these new characters coming into the industry all the time. I have to remind myself that I've had 15 years in the public eye and I'm still working.' That's why Jessica was thrilled to be asked to appear on ITV's Cooking With The Stars, which starts tonight, alongside Jack Osbourne, Natalie Cassidy and 'It was absolutely brilliant. There was a really cool gang of people and a real mix of characters. It was a pressure cooker of celebs, chefs and the dynamics of it all – and I loved it. I learned loads.' Despite the drive from all the Wrights to succeed, anyone who knows them personally will have witnessed how tight-knit they are. It's why Jessica has been so hurt by reports of a secret hierarchy with them and other stars in Essex, as well as rumours of a poisonous rivalry within her own family. Natalya Wright: Living the Luxe Life 'That really upset us all,' she says. 'Of course we have squabbles, but what family doesn't? We all love each other. It was very bizarre. I don't really get it. 'We are so not that family. We keep to ourselves. We don't want to be those people who interfere with anyone else. We're very friendly around the village [where they live near Ongar]. People know us from living there, not because we're famous. We work really hard to be good people and just be us. 'We've really been through s**t in our past and we've come out the other side. We've done well for ourselves, so why try to tear us down?' My mum wasn't the best at being on camera. 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They did brilliantly. But everything is an extension of what is reality. I get sent those TikToks by friends saying: 'Look at the comments'. 'Do people really think this was real?' she sighs. 'It was real, but it wasn't. It was drama being made out of reality. We would never have even had those conversations with the people if it wasn't for being on the TV show. That's how they're made.' It seems, though, that the criticism has made the family stronger. 'We are really thick-skinned, and in the end we're like: 'Whatever'. If that's what you think of us, that's what you think of us. We couldn't care less. As long as we're happy and we've got our family and we're working, that's all we care about. Honestly, I've got too much to worry about in life.' It had been a year since Presley was diagnosed and I was grieving a lot Jessica Wright Jessica really has had more to worry about. Her son, Presley, three – who she shares with her husband of three years, businessman William Lee-Kemp – has been diagnosed with a rare congenital heart disease, which means the toddler will need major surgery at some point. Having a bicuspid aortic valve means that the valve that controls blood flow from the heart has only two flaps instead of the normal three. It affects only 1% of the population and Jess says the diagnosis came as a 'complete shock'. Presley has to have regular checks. 'It's every four months now, whereas before it was every two months, as their heart grows at a slower rate as they get older. The checks being less frequent helps, as it's really stressful and we don't know how each check is going to go. It all depends on how his heart's growing. So it can be at any point [the surgery is needed].' The condition can cause chest pain, shortness of breath and dizziness, and for Jessica, the prospect of her child suffering was unbearable. 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I did reach out to one, but I feel better now so I don't want to go and sit and cry for an hour. I don't want to go back there again. But I've had to admit to myself that my depression is quite severe. But I've been on antidepressants for 15 years and I know I have to look after myself.' Jess and her family have always been supportive of other people's struggles, too. The family has rallied around close friend James 'Arg' Argent. The 37-year-old reality star was convicted of a domestic violence charge against his now ex-girlfriend Nicoline Artursson, 32. The Sun revealed he had shoved her down steps during a heated row outside her apartment in Spain in May. 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He loves his nephews so much, and Michelle does of course. He's really in his element and loving being a dad. Michelle is amazing. She took to it straight away and we always knew she would. 'The relationship between Mark and me is still the same. We're still critical of each other [laughs] but it's really good. We do more kiddy stuff now and are always getting together on the weekends at one of our houses.' 10 On TOWIE with James Argent and Lydia Bright Credit: SUPPLIED BY That said, the family don't hold back in one particular area. 'There's judgement of meals if you host. Everyone slates it going: 'This bit is good, this bit is bad.' My presentation is not the best, but it always tastes good! We send pictures of our dinners to each other all the time. If it's not that then the family group chat is all pictures and videos of the kids.' And thankfully, they've got mum Carol on hand to help out with childcare. 'My mum has Presley sometimes, but he goes to nursery now. 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I don't want to throw a party for loads of people that I barely see. But it is a big milestone, so I don't want to make the wrong decision and regret it.' Jessica looks even better now than when she burst on to our screens 15 years ago, but does she worry about ageing? 'There's so much you can do to to de-age you now that's non-invasive. I do all the fads. I've succumbed to the castor oil pack over my stomach. It's supposed to debloat you. Then I bought mouth tape and I want to try putting scar plasters on my wrinkles, too. Though I have all the good ideas, but don't actually do them. 'I have Botox and then I'll do non-invasive lasers. I've noticed I've been getting spots which I never used to get and I'm like: 'Is that because I'm turning 40?'' Jessica also had a breast reduction last year – her boob job, which boosted her to 32DD, was filmed for TOWIE in 2011. 10 Jess with her fellow Coking With The Stars cast Credit: Getty 10 Jess has frozen embryos and hopes to have another baby in the future Credit: Jessica Wright/Instagram What is a bicuspid aortic valve? A bicuspid aortic valve is a congenital condition where the aortic valve has only two flaps instead of the usual three. The aortic valve is a one-way valve which prevents blood coming back into the heart once it has been pumped out to the body. This is usually made of three leaflets, which open and close as the blood is pumped out. However, approximately one to two per cent of people have valves with just two leaflets, known as a bicuspid aortic valve. These valves can often function well throughout a person's life, but the valve can become narrow or leak as they get older. This can leave people at risk of infection in the heart, endocarditis. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, and palpitations - although some people may not experience any. A doctor may hear a swishing sound when using a stethoscope on a patient. The condition is usually diagnosed via an ultrasound scan (echocardiogram), and the valve will need regular monitoring to ensure it is continuing to function well. Children with a bicuspid aortic valve, which do not have narrowing or a leak, do not need to be restricted in terms of their activity or exercise. 'I've taken my implants out, so I'm all natural now [laughs], well apart from my eyelashes, fake tan and hair extensions. 'My sister wouldn't do a thing. My mum can get the hump when she has eyelash extensions or her brows laminated. That's about as far as she goes, but then she doesn't need to. Just look at her, she was born with it all – beautiful. I wasn't. My siblings are the athletically built ones. I've got to work for it. And I like wine too much.' 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The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
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The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
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The ancient seaside town featuring in a new ITV drama – and you can stay for £26
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