Afton McKeith Reveals Mother's Unusual Advice Ahead of ITV's The Summit Challenge
The daughter of television personality Gillian McKeith has shared the surprising advice her famous mother gave her before embarking on a grueling new reality television challenge. Afton McKeith, a 24-year-old pageant and fitness coach, is among the fourteen contestants competing in ITV's upcoming adventure series The Summit, hosted by This Morning presenter Ben Shephard.
The Ultimate Test of Strategy and Endurance
This ambitious new program follows a diverse group of strangers as they attempt to conquer one of New Zealand's most formidable mountains within a strict fourteen-day timeframe. The contestants must navigate treacherous alpine terrain while carrying the cash prize they hope to secure, creating a unique physical and psychological challenge. The series promises dramatic tests of strategy and resilience as participants compete for a potential share of £200,000.
The show introduces a mysterious figure known as the Mountain's Keeper, who creates extraordinary obstacles blocking the path to the summit. Beyond the physical demands, contestants must engage in strategic gameplay, forming alliances and making difficult decisions about eliminating competitors along the journey.
Family Wisdom from the Jungle to the Mountains
During a recent appearance on This Morning alongside fellow contestants Tyra and Warren, Afton McKeith disclosed the practical advice she received from her mother, Gillian McKeith, who gained fame through her participation in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
"I actually went into this without a game plan," Afton explained to host Ben Shephard. "I didn't know what was involved in this show with strategy. And so, I went in wanting to be myself and didn't want to tell people about my mum."
Despite her initial discretion about her family connection, Afton did heed her mother's specific guidance drawn from jungle experience. "Her advice was keep your dishes to yourself because we're kind of obsessed with hygiene in my family," she revealed. "We don't like sharing saliva, so she told me to keep my dishes to myself and don't mix them in with other people's dishes when washing. So, I actually did do that, I don't know if people noticed that, but I did do that."
Unprepared for the Extreme Challenge
Afton, who competed for the Miss England title last year, admitted she was remarkably unprepared for the harsh realities of the mountain expedition. She arrived for filming wearing an all-in-one pink outfit and even inquired about bringing hair straighteners, demonstrating her initial misunderstanding of the challenge ahead.
"This was completely not what I was expecting," she confessed. "They did not explain you are going to be going on this treacherous journey in crazy conditions, and it's very physically and mentally demanding. Another level."
Reflecting on what she described as "the craziest experience" of her life, Afton recalled the intense physical discomfort and psychological strain. "It was always scary when [Ben] would turn up or the Mountain's Keeper... Mountain's Keeper was awful actually, terrifying... It was so far out of my comfort zone. I remember waking up freezing, shaking violently from the cold. I was violently shaking when I woke up."
Premiere Details and Anticipation
The Summit makes its television debut tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and the ITVX streaming platform. The series promises to deliver high-stakes drama against the breathtaking backdrop of New Zealand's Southern Alps, combining extreme physical challenges with complex social dynamics as contestants vie for the substantial cash prize.
With its unique format that blends adventure competition with strategic gameplay, and featuring contestants like Afton McKeith who bring unexpected personal stories to the mountain, The Summit represents ITV's latest foray into ambitious reality programming that tests human limits in spectacular natural settings.
