Otley mum rises to SAS test from hell

The BBC's latest reality series is one of the toughest yet. Catherine Scott meets contestant and mum of two Lynsey Donoghue

Sleep deprivation, water-boarding and other brutality sounds like modern day torture of terrorists.

But it is all part of the BBC’s latest reality show and all the people taking part are volunteers

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Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week follows 22 fitness fanatics and gym bunnies as they are pushed to – and beyond – their physical and mental limits in the South African bush.

Lynsey Donoghue at home in Otley with her daughter Maddy, 11, and son Joshua 5Lynsey Donoghue at home in Otley with her daughter Maddy, 11, and son Joshua 5
Lynsey Donoghue at home in Otley with her daughter Maddy, 11, and son Joshua 5

And among the recruits is 34 year old Otley mum of two Lynsey Donoghue.

She may not sound like the most likely of SAS recruits on paper but don’t be mistaken, this Yorkshire lass is one tough cookie.

“I have been a firefighter since I was 19 and am a fitness fanatic, not your gym stuff but outside, I love fell running and anything like that,” says Lynsey who was based at Rawden Fire Station for ten year before moving to Otley.

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But tackling fires in West Yorkshire is a far cry from lugging enormous water vats and concrete blocks across rough terrain and eating raw Springbok liver and even its stomach contents (see the first episode on BBC iPlayer)

Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week  Picture Shows: A punishment is dished out to one of the recruits for addressing the Colonel by the wrong name  - (C) BBC - Photographer: Joe AlblasSpecial Forces: Ultimate Hell Week  Picture Shows: A punishment is dished out to one of the recruits for addressing the Colonel by the wrong name  - (C) BBC - Photographer: Joe Alblas
Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week Picture Shows: A punishment is dished out to one of the recruits for addressing the Colonel by the wrong name - (C) BBC - Photographer: Joe Alblas

So what made Lynsey sign up?

“I watched the first series with my partner Richard and thought it was just my cup of tea. I love pushing myself to the limit and am always up for a challenge,” she says.

In the end it was Richard who suggested Lynsey fill in the application form for the show.

“I like challenging stereotypes and this was another platform to do that,” she adds.

Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week Picture Shows:  Recruit Lynsey Donoghue - (C) BBC - Photographer: Joe AlblasSpecial Forces: Ultimate Hell Week Picture Shows:  Recruit Lynsey Donoghue - (C) BBC - Photographer: Joe Alblas
Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week Picture Shows: Recruit Lynsey Donoghue - (C) BBC - Photographer: Joe Alblas
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“My daughter Maddy was about to start high school and I thought it was a good time to show her just what women can do. I suppose I wanted to be a bit of a role model for her and other girls to show them that we can do stuff if you are determined and put your mind to it.”

Lynsey was one of more than 5,000, some people would say crazy, volunteers to put themselves forward for the programme.

“I kept getting through the different stages and every time I got through I realised I was a step nearer taking part in the actual show. The producers liked the fact that I was just an ordinary down to earth person with a job and a family.”

Lynsey ended up getting through to the final 22, but she was in for a bit of a shock.

Lynsey Donoghue has been a firefighter for 19 years she is heading up West Yorkshire Fire Services first recruitment drive for nine yearsLynsey Donoghue has been a firefighter for 19 years she is heading up West Yorkshire Fire Services first recruitment drive for nine years
Lynsey Donoghue has been a firefighter for 19 years she is heading up West Yorkshire Fire Services first recruitment drive for nine years
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“The first series was filmed in the Brecon Beacons and so I presumed the second series would be filmed in this country to, but when we got through they told us that it was taking place in South Africa.” Lynsey set about getting child care arrangements in place for Maddy then ten and Joshua, who was then just four.

“Richard was great and I have a very supportive family which made it possible,” she says.

Although the two-weeks of filming saw Lynsey and the other recruits subjected to some of the worst physical and mental challenges you can imagine, the Yorkshire mum said she really enjoyed it.

“As a mum you spend your entire life making sure other people are alright. You always put them first. For once I just had to think about me and no one else.”

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Although she does admit that being one of only two mums taking part meant she did end up mothering some of the other contestants.

“The men were the worst,” she says. But it wasn’t the physical side of things that Lynsey found hard.

Lynsey at home in Otley with Maddy and Joshua. She is expecting her third child later this yearLynsey at home in Otley with Maddy and Joshua. She is expecting her third child later this year
Lynsey at home in Otley with Maddy and Joshua. She is expecting her third child later this year

“When I did my basic training for the fire service it was very much like military training and so I wasn’t really phased by that or being shouted at and told what to do. I’d watched the first series so I knew what to expect.

“But everybody had a weakness and it does show up as the series progresses. My weakness was being away from the kids.

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“They took everything away from you when we got to South Africa and although I knew if there was a crisis at home they would get in touch, two weeks seems an awfully long time to have no contact at all and when you are sleep deprived and exhausted it makes it worse and one day it just hit me and I thought ‘I can’t do this any more’

“But the entire reason I was there was them . To show them what you can do if you put your mind to it. I couldn’t quit it wasn’t an option.”

The only really hard physical challenge Lynsey says she struggled with was in the first episode where the recruits have to eat raw Springbok liver and then drink its stomach contents.

“I am really squeamish about eating strange things. I always hate the eating trials when I watch I’m a Celebrity (Get me out of Here). I knew when they brought the dead animal out what was going to happen.

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“It was the smell more than anything. I got more affected by that challenge than any of the others. It’s definitely a moment in my life I won’t forget in a hurry.”

Lynsey, who is five months pregnant with her third child, is tight-lipped about how she got on in the programme which sees recruits eliminated each week.

She is currently stationed at Otley and is running the fire service’s new recruitment campaign.

And it seems that so far she has achieved her aim of impressing her daughter and her friends.

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“Apparently her friends were all mega-impressed. They gave me a ‘G’ on social media which she says is good so I must be doing something right.”

Presented by Reggie Yates Special Forces - Ultimate Hell Week is on Sunday at 9pm on BBC 2.

To find outmore about joining West Yorkshrie Fire Service visit www.joinwyfirefighters.com.

Twitter@ypcscott

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