Well-known Northampton pub landlady set to star in major new ITV prime-time television series launching soon

Miranda Richardson, 50, landlady at The Squirrels in Duston, is one of 14 contestants taking part in The Summit, a new adventure reality show hosted by Ben Shephard.

The series sees contestants from across the country travel to New Zealand’s South Island, where they attempt to climb one of the Southern Alps’ most dramatic mountains.

Over 14 days, they must battle harsh weather, treacherous terrain and a series of physical and mental challenges, while competing for a potential £200,000 cash prize.

Each contestant carries a share of the prize money in their backpack as they climb. If a contestant is eliminated or forced to drop out, their money is lost from the total. Along the way, players must also vote each other out, meaning alliances and strategy play a key role.

Show host Ben Shephard described filming the series as unlike anything he had experienced before.

He said: “It was an extraordinary experience. It’s right up my street – the adventurous nature of it and the epic challenge ordinary people face when they have never climbed a mountain before.

“I’ve never experienced anything like it as a TV show. And the backdrop of the Southern Alps in New Zealand, I challenge anyone to find anywhere more dramatic, inspiring or terrifying as that landscape.”

He said viewers could expect “the adventure of a lifetime”. “It’s fourteen ordinary people trying to achieve something truly extraordinary,” he said. “It’s some of the best reality drama you’ll ever see, crossed with adventure on an epic scale.”

On why she wanted to take on such a big challenge, Miranda said: “I’m always looking to push myself, always. It’s all about the next challenge in life, it’s what drives me really. To do something completely out of my comfort zone.

“I also think I will surprise a lot of people. I have done a lot in my life and want to show people I am far more capable than they give me credit for. I’m 50, and I’m not ready to slow down.”

On what she thinks is her biggest strength going into the competition, she said: “It’s definitely a mental strength for me – I’ve experienced real horrors. I lost my mum to cancer when I was 15, I had cancer. I’ve got mental grit. I ran a pub through COVID.

“I’m 5 foot 2 so I might not be physically strong, but mental strength is something else. The worst thing in my life has happened to me so if I have to abseil down a cliff I can do it.”

On what she hopes to prove by taking part, she said: “I’m 50 and still have far more grit and determination than some people half my age. I’m not ready to wear a cardigan yet, I have a lot more in life to do.”

And on her fear of heights… she added: “I don’t do heights. But I abseiled myself down Northampton Lift Tower, which is the highest tower structure in Europe. I cried half way down it but I got through it.”

The Summit starts Tuesday February 10 and Wednesday February 11 at 9pm on ITV1 and runs until March 17.