Interview with Recruit 6 - Jake
Category: Press Pack ArticleJake
Recruit: 6
Age: 28
Profession: Works in the Fitness Industry
Hometown: London
Background
In 2018, Jake met his girlfriend – influencer, Youtuber and presenter, Emily Hartridge. She had 335k subscribers on YouTube, 63.7k followers on Instagram and was a mental health advocate, who had also fronted a documentary on turning 30, where she staged her own funeral.
In July 2019, Emily and Jake moved in together and they were hoping to start a family that year. Less than one week after starting their new life in their new home, Emily was travelling to an appointment at an IVF clinic, and was killed in a tragic road accident on her way. Emily died whilst riding an electric scooter, which was gifted to her by Jake a couple of days before her death. Emily was 35.
In the aftermath of Emily’s death, Jake was trolled by strangers who blamed him for her death.
He has since used Instagram and YouTube to help others and encourage conversations regarding mental health. He wanted to take part in the course as it was nearing the one year anniversary of Emily’s death and he felt lost.
Tell me about your experience on SAS: Who Dares Wins?
My experience on SAS: Who Dares Wins was one of the toughest I have ever endured. I am sure most people would say it would be without doubt the toughest. However after losing my girlfriend Emily in 2019, SAS: Who Dares Wins takes second spot. It's fair to say that I was not expecting it to be as challenging as it was for me. It brought up things in me that I have had buried deep down for a very long time. And I am so grateful for the show and the opportunity as since leaving the course, it has helped me face up to and deal with some of those issues, rather than bury them down inside me. It helped me make peace with the whole situation. To the fellow recruits, DS, and all of you that work on the show, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Did you find it difficult? Was it more difficult than you expected?
It was much more difficult than I expected! I truly believe we would get some "time off," or a break here and there - haha! Silly to think that really. I should have known real SAS recruits would not have been given too many tea and biscuit breaks! For me the hardest and most challenging part was the constant worry of what was coming next. I felt tense the whole time, and I can comfortably say I was really scared. I didn't anticipate that fear, I knew I would have when faced with certain tasks, heights in particular, but not while I was back at the camp for example. I guess I just didn't want to fail. If it had been easier than I thought, I would have been disappointed.
Have you ever done anything like this before?
I am extremely active, but I can safely say I haven't done anything like that before. I wish I could do more of it! I have the utmost respect for all members of the SAS and any other parts of the military - you are cut from a different cloth!
What made you sign up?
I signed up because I felt very lost in life. After losing Emily back in 2019, I fear sometimes that I have given up in life without her. I needed to prove to myself that I hadn't. I screamed down that cliff during the abseil task, but the fact I walked off that edge proved that I still had some fight left in me.
What training did you do in preparation for this course?
I am a fitness instructor as one of my jobs, so I am always training. I just did more in the lead up to the course. More running, more running with weight etc. I also tried to train when I didn't want to, as I knew we wouldn't be doing a lot of the tasks on the course on a full belly for example.
Now that you have this experience, would you like to join the real Special Forces?
I can't say that I would like to join the special forces, no. I would love to have another crack at the course, for sure. The truth is, I'm not sure I’m tough enough. I'd like to state though that if the case ever presented itself to me where I HAD to fight for my country, of course I would strap up my boots!
What was the best part of the series for you?
The whole experience put together, from preparation, to the course itself, and the fellow recruits, all added up to a perfect experience. The whole experience was so raw, and gave me exactly what I was hoping to get out of it.
What is your biggest fear and has this experience helped you get over that fear?
I still hate heights. But in all seriousness, my fear was that I would give up, or that I had in my life. I now don't think I have.
You had to share all your space with women for the whole time you were there, including sleeping and toilets. How did you find that?
I was fine with how the accommodation was set up. When you're on the course, that wasn't really a worry of mine. Parts were uncomfortable, as it was a new experience, but I understood it's as close to the real thing as you can get.
Would you ever do it again?
100%
What do you think you’ve learnt about yourself?
That I still have some fight left in me.
Has being on the series changed your life in anyway?
Definitely, I gained a load of new friends. Thanks so much again.