Lucy Spraggan – Recruit Number 4
Category: Press Pack ArticleLucy Spraggan first rose to fame as a favourite on the 2012 series of The X Factor, where she quickly became a viral sensation and the bookies' favourite to win. Since then, Lucy has carved out an incredibly successful career as a singer-songwriter, releasing seven studio albums and collaborating with Robbie Williams on the 2024 single "Sober."
But Lucy's journey has been anything but conventional. Behind the success and acclaim, Lucy has faced a personal battle that has shaped her into the person she is today. Her story is one of raw honesty and resilience—rising from trauma, and self-doubt to find her strength.
In 2023, Lucy opened up about her experiences in her Sunday Times Bestseller memoir Process, which explores not only her rise to fame but also the painful moments of her past, including her struggles with alcohol and the trauma she faced during her time on The X Factor. Through it all, Lucy has demonstrated that healing is possible, and she is now stronger than ever.
As she continues to push herself, both physically and mentally, Lucy remains focused on one thing: testing her limits. “The idea of being pushed to my limit kind of delights me,” she says. “I want to prove that I’m stronger than I ever thought possible.”
Now five years sober, Lucy is determined to show that recovery is not just about staying clean—it’s about embracing life’s challenges and learning to thrive. With her strong sense of self, she’s ready to take on anything the future holds.
Lucy’s greatest motivation today is to prove to herself that she’s capable of far more than she ever imagined. “The sky is the limit, and I want to show that on this course. I like to think of myself as mentally strong, but no one really knows that until you get pushed to your limit.”
As a woman who has rebuilt herself after years of struggle, Lucy is proving every day that she is far more than her past. She says, “I’m not afraid to show my true self.”
Why did you say yes to joining Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins?
This is something genuinely you can go back and read about in my journals from two years ago, where I wrote about SAS: Who Dares Wins for years. I used to watch it avidly, both the celebrity and the civilian version. I was obsessed. I love seeing the extremes human beings can go through, it is quite incredible.
What were you hoping to get out of the experience for yourself?
I think because of a lot of things that I've been so open about across the board, which I talked about in my book, I had in my mind. I always thought, "I think that I'm a badass. I think I have this potential…” So the reason I wanted to go on the show was to prove that to myself. That genuinely was what it was. I test myself in a lot of ways, but this is the ultimate test.
Did you do any preparation for the course?
I'm very athletic anyway, and I do a lot of training. I train five times a week, I do a mix of martial arts and I lift weights and I run a lot. But I was on tour, and as my manager used to be an army reservist, he had a load of army bags (bergens). And so on the tour bus, one of the bunks just had bergens and my boots in, so at eight o'clock in the morning I'd climb out of there with all this gear and go for a run with the heavy bergen on. I also listened to a podcast with Siva Kaneswaran talking about his time on the show.
Who would you say you bonded with the most out of the others recruits?
To be honest, it was mainly Michaella, Bimini, Troy, Adam but I also got on with Conor too, although we did clash heads a bit. It was only to do with him not really liking direction and I was picked to direct one of the tasks! I thought Adam was such a great guy. As a woman, when a man really makes you feel comfortable around them, he was that for me the whole time. Adam, Bimini and Michaella came to my wedding after the show.
Would you say you learn anything from the DS?
Yeah, 100%. Rudy, especially. Rudy gave me this perspective on my ability. He just makes you feel like anything is possible if you approach it in the right manner. I think they all teach you something individually. Mainly they just install fear in you so that you don't make mistakes! Billy terrified me! When he did give you a flash of niceness, I was just like, "I don't know what to do with you.” He’s an intense person!
What did you find more challenging, the physical or mental side of the course?
I actually really loved most of it. The mental stuff is the hardest, for sure. I am physically very strong, especially for my size. I don't think I am in my own mind, but I'm like five foot two, so the physical stuff was challenging. But the whole course is a mental game you have to overcome.
How would you sum up your SAS experience?
It was about nine million times worse than I thought it was going to be, and I thought it was going to be bad. I really did! It's utterly traumatising, but unbelievably rewarding. It’s a once in a lifetime experience because I will never do that again!