How military service gave TV's SAS star purpose

Jason 'Foxy' Fox grew up in Houghton Regis, near Luton

Jason 'Foxy' Fox, who stars in reality show SAS: Who Dares Wins, said military service gave him purpose after struggling at school.

The former Royal Marines commando and special forces sergeant grew up in Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire.

He recalled: "I didn't do so well at school, so decided I needed to get away and find something meaningful to do, so I joined the marines.

"If you're lacking in the qualification arena, a life in the military is actually really good."

He added: "Ultimately it gives you structure, discipline, fitness as well, and it teaches you trades and skills.

"For me it was the best thing that happened to me."

Foxy, who joined the Special Boat Service in 2001, was medically discharged from military service in 2012 after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In 2015 he joined the Channel 4 military reality series SAS: Who Dares Wins, which sees everyday people and celebrities undergoing military training to prove their physical and mental resilience.

He said the celebrities that took part seemed to underestimate the challenge.

"It normally takes an hour or two for them to realise there isn't a Winnebago with tea and coffee waiting for them," he said.

The show has visited a variety of harsh landscapes across the world, including in Vietnam, Morocco and Jordan.

However, the star revealed Scotland - shot during the Covid-19 pandemic - was the most challenging location of the bunch.

He said: "Everyone thinks it's going to be one of the exotic parts of the world, but the British environment is tough at the best of times."

Foxy is training for a charity marathon in the Arctic

Foxy is part of a four-man team preparing for an Arctic marathon, which he described as a "mental mammoth trek".

Project Fire and Ice is taking place next year and he is hoping to raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.

The group will hike 500km (310 miles) in the Arctic circle, pulling a sled of their equipment behind them.

He explained: "There's four of us so we can only move as the slowest person, which no doubt will be me.

"It's [about] being on top of your personal admin. If you stop and you're tired, don't do nothing. If you got wet kit on, put dry kit on.

"Putting one foot in front of the other is the easy bit."