Exclusive
STRICTLY AN SAS GIRL
Celebrity SAS winner Lauren Steadman would rather do the gruelling course ten times than return to Strictly Come Dancing
SHE endured bust-ups, beastings and interrogations on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins – but emerged triumphant.
Paralympian triathlete Lauren Steadman was last night crowned as co-winner of the gruelling Channel 4 challenge, alongside Rudimental DJ Locksmith.
5
Now Lauren, who was born with her lower right arm missing, reveals she prevailed by embracing pain — and hoping for a better BUM.
In an exclusive interview, she said: “I remember there was one point when we were climbing a hill, with canoes on our backs, and were in agony.
“I kept thinking, ‘The more this hurts, the peachier my bum is going to be — and a stronger bum means I’ll be really strong for the Tokyo Paralympics’.
“In a strange way I loved being in pain on SAS because the ability to withstand it is what allows you to go further than the next person and that’s what gets you on the podium.”
5
In fact, Lauren would rather go through the mud and fury all over again, many more times, than return to Strictly Come Dancing — which she appeared on in 2018, reaching the semi-finals with pro partner AJ Pritchard.
She said: “I’d rather do SAS ten times than go back and do Strictly.
“I loved doing both and on Strictly it was about being proud of who I am and inspiring people — I got to be a beautiful, glitzy, glamorous girl.
“But I wanted to show you can be girly and sporty, and SAS just resonated more with me.
“I’d rather be caked in mud and sweat than fake tan and sequins — I found that tough on Strictly.”
As “Recruit No7” on SAS, taking orders from chief instructor Ant Middleton, she also inspired viewers, including a little girl with her lower left arm missing.
PLAIN-SPEAKING
Lauren said: “Her dad got in touch to say there was one part where Ant said, ‘No7 is by far our fittest, strongest recruit’, and the next day the girl said, ‘Daddy, can I have my bike out, please?’ — and she’s ridden every day since.
“I wanted to show anybody with disability that you can really push yourself.”
This grit meant moments on the show when she was surprisingly plain-speaking.
She said: “If you were to watch me in a race, no one would question why I was like I was on SAS.
“If you want a gold medal, this is what it takes and if you get in the way of me in a race I’m going to tell you.
“If you are a woman that fights for things and stands up for things, say what you have to say.”
Must watch
WHAT? Bake Off: The Professionals, C4, 8pm.
WHY? New series sees Liam Charles and Tom Allen fronting the competition in which a dozen professional pairs show off their skills in the kitchen.
A smart man, we got close
AS well as a few rows, viewers hoped Lauren might have a romance with fellow finalist Joey Essex.
But she says there was NO chance, adding: “We became very close but there was never a romance. Besides, I’ve no tan so I’d look like a ghost next to him.
5
“I remember I said to him, ‘What can I say to you to motivate you in the right way?’ and he said, ‘No carbs before Marbs’.
"I was like, ‘What does that mean?’ and he said, ‘I need a good body and not eat the carbs’.
“Joey would also come in and go, ‘I need a mirror. I think my veneers have moved’.
“It just lightened everything. At one point, we’d been in the grass and were told we might get ticks.
"He said, ‘Can you check my back for ticks.
“I’ve got a naked photo shoot in a few weeks, and I can’t have that’.
“I found him such a breath of fresh air on SAS because everyone is so serious.
"He is a very smart young man and I definitely felt like towards the end of the week we had each other’s backs.”
Cakes but no snakes
LAUREN wouldn’t mind trying her hand at other reality TV shows, including I’m A Celebrity.
She said: “I would do the jungle. But that would scare me more than any of the other shows I’ve done.
5
“I can be beasted and have Ant Middleton throw what he wants at me.
“But put me in a container with snakes and rats and spiders and I’d be quite squeamish.
“I’d love to go on The Great British Bake Off.
“Baking was something I did with my grandma for a very long time. She passed away last year and it means the world to me.
“It’s easy to bake a cake in your kitchen because you have all the time in the world.
But then when Paul Hollywood is there watching it’s another matter.
“Fortunately, I haven’t ever suffered from a soggy bottom.”
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
Strong words in my mind
CELEBRITY pals from the show are helping Lauren launch a range of T-shirts raising awareness and funds for mental health charity Mind.
She said: “We’ve been showing some toughness and resilience. A lot of people will have been watching and thinking, ‘I wish I could do something like that’.
5
“So I thought, ‘Let me get everyone together and see if they’ll help me promote these T-shirts’.”
The shirts, modelled by Anthea Turner, feature the slogan “You’re Stronger Than You Think” and profits will go to Mind.
For details see .
Joey Essex breaks down in tears on Celebrity SAS after furious rows with Lauren Steadman
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]
Topics