EX-EASTENDERS star Maisie Smith shocked Sunday Brunch viewers by breaking down in tears live on air.
The 24-year-old actress made an appearance on the light-hearted cooking show to promote her upcoming stint in a stage adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley, but was asked about various aspects of her life and career by hosts Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer.
However, as the pair grilled her about her time on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins back in 2022, Maisie found herself overcome with emotion as she watched back clips of the harrowing challenges.
But it seems three years on the memories are still fresh in the star’s mind, and while she said it was “the best thing she’s ever done” she said: “It was worse than you could even imagine. When I watched it back, there’s so much more that they didn’t even show.
“When we had mic packs, when they’d change the packs, you weren’t allowed to talk. It was severe. There was never ‘cut, cast can chill for a bit.’
“It was intense. Brutal.”
Maisie eventually won the show when she participated in the endurance challenge – joining Calum Best, Ferne McCanne and AJ Pritchard to pass the test.
Though she noted that her experience, which was set in the deserts of Jordan, took a toll on her physically and mentally, before bursting into tears.
As Simon and Tim awkwardly rallied around her, she said: “I was so young. I was 19, and it was such a big challenge. I’m proud of myself.”
The latest series of Celebrity SAS is currently airing, and after just two episodes, four of the cast have already quit.
S Club 7’s Hannah Spearritt was first to go , followed by Louie Spence , and then Love Island stars Tasha Ghouri and Chloe Burrows quit within minutes of each other during a trek up a hill.
Tasha has since refused to even acknowledge her time on the show , and said at the time of her exit she “wasn’t there mentally” to do it.
The series is set to continue tonight with more stars expected to bite the dust and voluntarily withdraw.
10 still remain in the game, which is set to get even more brutal as the annual boxing challenge takes place.
Those still in the running include drag artist Bimini, Rebecca Loos, Love Island’s Adam Collard and The Traitors winner Harry Clark.
