Key Highlights
- Gillian McKeith’s daughter Afton breaks down in tears and suffers a panic attack during The Summit premiere.
- Afton was unable to complete the first challenge due to fear of height.
- The Summit is a new TV show where contestants face physical challenges on New Zealand’s highest peak.
- Gillian McKeith herself fainted on a similar show, drawing comparisons between mother and daughter.
Afton’s Breakdown: A Family of Fear
When Gillian McKeith’s daughter Afton found herself on the first challenge of The Summit, little did she know it would be a repeat performance of her mother’s infamous fainting incident from 2010. Just minutes into the ‘tough to watch’ premiere, Afton was seen sobbing and claiming she couldn’t go through with the task at hand.
The challenge in question involved a single-rope crossing over Paradise Gorge, which is 50 feet above ground. Afton’s teammates tried to encourage her, but she remained visibly distressed. “I’m really scared,” Afton told them, before adding, “I don’t want to do it. I’m having like a panic attack.” Despite the encouragement from her co-stars and the camera crew, Afton was unable to complete the task.
The Summit: An Uphill Battle
For those unfamiliar with The Summit, contestants are tasked with climbing up one of New Zealand’s highest peaks. Along the way, they face various physical challenges designed to test both their mental and physical limits. If they refuse these challenges, they could be sent back down the mountain and out of the game.
Beyond the physical challenges, The Summit also serves as a platform for contestants to share personal stories and experiences. Afton’s appearance on the show offered a rare glimpse into her life, revealing that she had entered without much strategy or plan. “I didn’t know what was involved in this show with strategy,” she admitted during an interview.
Comparisons and Speculation
The parallels between Afton’s performance and Gillian’s 2010 fainting incident on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! were not lost on viewers. One Twitter user wrote, “Something tells me Afton is not going to make it to the end,” while another chimed in, “Don’t cry, just faint like your mum.”
However, Afton did manage to complete the challenge eventually but only after a tearful performance. She later spoke about her experience on This Morning, admitting that she was unprepared for the physical and mental demands of the show.
The Summit Continues: More Challenges Ahead
For those who missed the premiere or are just joining in, The Summit will continue airing on February 17 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Afton’s debut was just the beginning of what promises to be a treacherous journey for all contestants.
As the show progresses, it remains to be seen how Afton and other contestants will fare in the face of these challenges. Will they rise to the occasion or succumb to their fears?
The summit is not only physical but also a test of mental fortitude—a battle many may find themselves fighting uphill.
And so, as viewers tune in for more episodes, remember that what happens on screen can sometimes mirror real-life experiences. For Afton McKeith, the first challenge was just one of many obstacles to come.
