Strictly star breaks down live on Sunday brunch and admits 'I didn't want to give up'

Former Strictly finalist Maisie Smith could not hide her emotion as she was shown a clip on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch that she wasn't expecting to see.

The 24-year-old was crowned the winner of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins back in 2022 and she'd forgotten just how gruelling the experience had been - and she just couldn't fight back her tears.

Maisie admitted to presenters Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy that she'd found the show physically exhausting, telling the hosts there was no restpite. Producers did not allow the cast to take a break when the cameras weren't rolling, she confirmed, before admitting: "It was just so intense."

She also recalled being forced "to carry 20kg of sand" within her backpack every time they'd set out for a challenge - something everyone was expected to do.

The ex-EastEnders star explained that this was particularly challenging for her because she had been carrying "almost double" her own weight on her back each time.

Tim was keen to show Maisie in action on the programme, as a clip of the soap star began to roll. Maisie was shown during an extremely fatiguing moment.

She was nearing the end of difficult task and was made to hack her way up a huge sand hill with the extra weight on her back. It was evident that the former Strictly star was struggling.

Billy Billingham was shown shouting at her: "Come on number 12," as she took minute steps but never gave up. Billy screamed: "I want to see you sprinting."

Reacting to his words, miraculously, Maisie found some energy from deep within and began to run up the steep sand hill.

Back in the studio after the clip had played, the TV star was visibly moved. She struggled to fight back her tears, telling the hosts: "Sorry, I don't know why I am crying."

Wiping away her tears, Maisie said: "I was so young and it was such a big challenge." Breaking down again, she told the hosts: "They always called me the pocket rocket. I was so slow and I never gave up."

Through her sobs, she added: "I just didn't want be the girl that quits; I'm very proud of myself."

Celebrating her proud moment, Maisie also revealed that she had been the smallest and the lightest in terms of weight to ever win the show.

Tim offered Maisie some comfort, telling her: "You should be so proud of yourself."

Hey then moved on to discuss her time on Strictly - another huge achievement as she made the final alongside professional dancer Gorka Marquez in 2020.

Sunday Brunch airs every Sunday, from 10am.