Television presenter Miquita Oliver has candidly revealed that being caught in the devastating 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand profoundly impacted her mental wellbeing. The 41-year-old star described the traumatic event as having "f***ed" with her during a recent episode of her Miss Me? podcast with co-host Jordan Stephens.
A Fateful Christmas Holiday
Miquita spent that Christmas in Thailand with her then Popworld co-presenter Simon Amstell, who played a crucial role in their survival. She explained that Amstell woke her up just moments before the tsunami struck their location. "I was hungover, he doesn't drink so he woke me up," Oliver recalled. "If I'd stayed asleep, a lot of the people who stayed perished in their huts, but he took us to the beach in front of our hotel."
The Terrifying Moment of Impact
Oliver described the surreal and horrifying moment when the tsunami approached. "Then, I can't explain it, it just looked like, the wave just became tall in a way that was inhumane. Everyone was screaming and we ran." She confirmed they survived by fleeing to higher ground, stating simply: "Yes, by running up a mountain."
The presenter revealed the tragic scale of the disaster at their location, noting: "A lot of people we were with died, like people who were staying at the hotel." The 2004 tsunami was triggered by a massive 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh province, ultimately claiming more than 230,000 lives across fourteen countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India.
Lasting Psychological Impact
Oliver admitted she hasn't returned to Thailand since the traumatic experience, explaining: "I haven't been back since I was in the tsunami. It somewhat f****d with me." Her co-host Jordan Stephens expressed shock upon learning about her experience, responding: "That has blown my little travelling mind."
In previous interviews, Oliver has elaborated on the disorienting nature of the disaster. Speaking to The Times, she said: "When you experience a natural disaster it's hard to fully comprehend what's happening at the time. The whole beach started screaming and we all ran. We knew it was serious because the people who worked at the hotel and the locals were yelling and hacking down fences to make a clear path. It was like being in a horrific action film."
Current Relationship with Simon Amstell
The conversation also touched on Oliver's current relationship with Simon Amstell, with whom she rose to fame on Channel 4's Popworld from 2001 to 2006 when she was just sixteen. Despite their shared traumatic experience and long friendship, Oliver revealed that Amstell has declined her attempts to reunite professionally.
"I've tried! But Simon will not work with me again. I don't know why," she told Ok! Magazine. "He's like 'it was brilliant but let's just leave it there'. And I'm like 'Yeah... but we were so good'. So for now I'll just have to be happy having him as my friend. He's a very very important person in my life, but I'm not sure the TV reunion is going to happen."
Despite the professional separation, Oliver emphasized the enduring importance of their personal connection, particularly given their shared survival of one of modern history's deadliest natural disasters.
