Former Strictly Come Dancing finalist Maisie Smith broke down in tears on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch after watching footage of her time on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. The 24-year-old, who won the gruelling show in 2022, admitted she had forgotten just how punishing the experience had been.
Speaking to hosts Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy, Smith described the programme as physically draining, with no respite even when cameras stopped rolling. She revealed contestants were required to carry 20kg of sand in their rucksacks for every challenge, which was particularly tough for her as it was almost double her body weight.
After watching a clip of herself struggling up a massive sand dune while being shouted at by instructor Billy Billingham, Smith became emotional. She fought back tears, saying: 'Sorry, I don't know why I am crying. I was so young and it was such a big challenge.'
Smith, known for her role in EastEnders, added: 'They always called me the pocket rocket. I was so slow and I never gave up. I just didn't want to be the girl that quits; I'm very proud of myself.' She also noted that she holds the record as the shortest and lightest contestant ever to win the show.
Lovejoy reassured her, saying: 'You should be so proud of yourself.' The conversation then turned to her 2020 Strictly performance, where she reached the final with professional partner Gorka Marquez.
