A woman from County Tyrone who was sent to prison for drug smuggling in South America has become one of three * recruits to complete the latest series of Channel 4's Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Win.
Contestants in the military-style show are faced with gruelling physical and psychological tests that are supposed to mimic special forces training.
Michaella McCollum, alongside former X Factor contestant Lucy Spraggan and former footballer Troy Deeney, passed the selection course in Wales as the seventh series wrapped up on Monday.
After being told of their success, the trio agreed to get matching tattoos as a reminder of their achievement.
McCollum, who became known as one of the ‘Peru Two' after being caught smuggling 11kg of cocaine out of Lima Airport in 2013, said throughout her life she had made “so many mistakes”, allowing her to stay within her comfort zone.
“I think that this is something so challenging and something I never thought that I could possibly do,” the 31-year-old said.
“Learning that I'm capable of doing that would feel * quite amazing.”
‘There's more to me than football'
Former striker and Watford captain Deeney said the experience has taught him that he can be proud of himself.
“I'm hoping to be able to come through and be proud of myself. I put myself up for this, I did the work for it,” he added.
“I'm getting bored of being Troy the footballer, because there's a lot more of me than that.”
Reflecting on her time on the show Spraggan, who had previously spoken out about her trauma after she was raped while filming the X Factor in 2012, said
“Everything that has happened in my life had to happen for me to be here exactly where I am right now *,” she said.
“There's nothing I'd trade in this world to not be exactly where I am right now *.”
