Victoria Pendleton reveals what it was REALLY like taking part in Don't Rock The Boat 😱
They had a bucket instead of a toilet!
Today (2nd November 2020) marks the beginning of Don't Rock The Boat, the new TV series from ITV starring our very own Fleur East, along with 11 other celebrities in two teams, including Olympic, World and European Champion Victoria Pendleton CBE, actor and presenter Adam Thomas, actor Craig Charles and more.
This morning, Hits Radio Breakfast with Fleur East, James and Producer Matt were joined by Victoria Pendleton ahead of the first show due to start this evening at 9pm. During the interview, Victoria revealed what it was really like taking part in the challenge of rowing the length of the UK with five other team mates, going to the toilet on the boat and how it compared to Olympic cycling.
Revealing that if she was allowed to pick a team, she'd pick Fleur's team, Victoria told how the show compared to Olympic cycling. Admitting that she'd had "rather more preparation" for the cycling over the years, Victoria explained, "I felt rather more comfortable doing it (cycling), maybe 20 years experience as opposed to five days.
"But it was really cool, everybody did really well to pick up a completely new skill and it's not easy, it's not as easy as it looks!"
The Olympic champion also revealed that it was really tough, not only were they rowing 500 miles, they also had to do land challenges and even going to the toilet was a challenge.
"The bathroom is a bucket on deck," Victoria revealed to a shocked James and Producer Matt, continuing, "There's a small piece of fabric that you hang up across the boat for a modesty screen. It's like the size of a postage stamp, so it's not really that effective!
"And the boat is obviously rigged with so many cameras to capture the show and you're like, right, I'm sure someone can see my bottom right now!" 😱
Victoria went on to reveal, 'the bucket thing' hadn't been mentioned until after they signed up to the show.
Now take a look at the full line-up of Don't Rock The Boat:
Singer Fleur East
Fleur East started out on The X Factor, subsequently having a Number 1 single with 'Sax', followed by I'm a Celebrity in 2018. She is now a radio presenter, as well as continuing to release her own music.
British politician and author Tom Watson
Tom Watson is a British politician and author, he was elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in 2015, before standing down in 2019.
In March 2020 he was appointed chair of UK Music.
English supermodel and broadcaster Jodie Kidd
Model and racing driver Jodie Kidd has been a model for many years, modelling for companies such as Chanel, Monsoon and Yves Saint Laurent. She's also been a racing driver for many years, once appearing on Top Gear completing the fastest Celebrity Lap in 2003.
Jodie has also taken part in other TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing in 2008 and The Jump in 2015.
Actor Craig Charles
Craig Charles is best known for his roles in Red Dwarf (Dave Lister) and Lloyd Mullaney in Coronation Street, however now he is a successful DJ.
Olympic, World and European Champion Victoria Pendleton CBE
British jockey and former track cyclist, Victoria Pendleton CBE is an Olympic, World and European Champion.
Victoria is one of Great Britain's most successful female Olympians having won two Olympic gold and one silver medal.
Actor and presenter Adam Thomas
Former Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas is no stranger to TV. Not only has he appeared in Doctors, Casualty, and Waterloo Road, earlier this year Adam joined his brothers for Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai. It was a six-part series where the brothers, who are 1/4 Indian, embarked on a trip of self-discovery.
Sports presenter and Olympic gold medalist Denise Lewis OBE
Denise Lewis won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and is also a Commonwealth Games champion, European Champion and won at the World Championships.
Love Island winner Jack Fincham
Jack Fincham won Love Island back in 2018, with Dani Dyer. After winning the show, the couple briefly split in 2018, before announcing they'd gone their separate ways in April 2019.
Coronation Street actress Lucy Fallon
Lucy Fallon is best known for playing Bethany Platt in Coronation Street, winning several awards for her role, including a British Soap Award for Best Female Dramatic Performance in 2018.
The Pussycat Dolls member Kimberly Wyatt
Kimberly Wyatt is best known for being part of the very popular girl group, The Pussycat Dolls, before she left in 2010. As part of the group she had hits such as 'Don't Cha', 'Stickwitu' and 'Beep'. After leaving the group she won Celebrity MasterChef in 2015, before rejoining the girls for their 2019 reunion on The X Factor.
The Chase’s Dark Destroyer Shaun Wallace
Barrister Shaun Wallace is better known as The Chase's Dark Destroyer. In 2004 he won Mastermind and has also appeared in several other TV shows including being a finalist on Are You an Egghead?.
YouTuber Joe Weller
YouTuber Joe Weller has 5.4 million subscribers to his channel, which has more than 1 billion views since he started it in 2012. His videos cover all types of topics, from boxing to challenges, how to cut your hair to music.
Don't Rock The Boat starts at 9pm on ITV on Monday 2nd November.
Catch Hits Radio Breakfast with Fleur East, James and Producer Matt on air every weekday from 6am - 10am.
Watch more incredible Hits Radio interviews here
If you love reality TV then you'll love Fleur's podcast, The Reality of Reality TV, which is available to download now! Take a look at each of the celebrities she caught up with this year...
Episode 1: RuPauls' Drag Race UK winner - The Vivienne
In Episode 1 is all about RuPaul's Drag Race UK, the gruelling work involved in the show, why drag is not just fab make-up and a gorgeous body, and what REALLY happened in that 'red wig and silver dress' moment. 👀
Next episode lands Tuesday 14th July, make sure you subscribe so you don't miss out.
Episode 2: The X Factor's Janet Devlin
"Do I swallow that, or be the girl who throws up on national television?" Quite the conundrum for Janet Devlin, singer-songwriter, and finalist on The X Factor, who joins Fleur East on The Reality of Reality TV.
Episode 3: Alison Hammond
Alison Hammond has been on a lot of Reality TV shows, but there are some she wouldn't go on, Fleur East caught up with her to find out what she wouldn't go on.
Episode 4: Love Island's Amber Gill
Since leaving the famous Love Island villa, Amber has remained in the public eye, so we were over the moon to have her join The Reality of Reality TV with Fleur East, when she revealed how she really felt after THAT Casa Amor moment.
Episode 5: Vas J Morgan
Vas J Morgan is known for appearing on The Only Way In Essex (TOWIE) between 2014 – 2019 as well as Celebs Go Dating, so we couldn't wait to hear his realities of Reality TV.
Episode 6: JB Gill
JLS singer JB Gill admitted that they saw The X Factor almost as a last resort. The band had been working together for 18 months before they went on the programme, but as JB explained they'd tried every avenue before.
Episode 7: Harry Redknapp
Coming from a background of football, Harry Redknapp seemed an unlikely contestant on I'm A Celebrity when he took part two years ago, but he describes his experience on the show as life-changing, saying he, "Learnt to laugh again."
Episode 8: Vicky Pattison
Former Geordie Shore star and I'm a Celebrity winner, Vicky Pattison joined Fleur East to talk about her experiences of Reality TV and how two of the biggest shows she's been on differed in their support and preparation.
Episode 9: Jordan and Perri from Diversity
Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely are part of the very successful Britain's Got Talent winning group Diversity, and have opened up to Fleur East on her podcast The Reality of Reality TV with Fleur East about the hate they received and how they dealt with the haters.
Episode 10: Kerry Katona
Kerry Katona needs no introduction and in her own words, 'you hear before you see her!'. Through highs and lows, husbands and children, she's been gracing our reality TV screens for almost twenty years. So in the final episode of this series of The Reality of Reality TV with Fleur East, she speaks openly and honestly to one of our absolute Queens of Reality TV.