A Tempting Fortune contestant who was slammed as ‘selfish’ has addressed the backlash directed at her.
This week the Channel 4 reality show returned to screens. Hosted by Paddy McGuinness, it follows 12 strangers as they give up all luxuries during a gruelling 18-day trek across the Malaysian wilderness.
With only basic survival gear, they are working towards reaching a £300,000 prize at the finish line.
But along the way they are presented with ‘temptations’ that can offer them some luxuries during the journey—but come out of the prize pool.
Just two episodes into this season, contestant Vicki, 37, has already caused a stir by splashing the cash.
After dropping £2,000 to take a taxi and bypass a trek though the jungle, Vicki then spent £800 on some cheesy chips and a Fanta from a pop-up pub.
The decisions made by the Greeting Card Entrepreneur from Nottingham riled many up – but Vicki’s made it clear she has no regrets.
‘I calculated that by the time I had the cheesy chips I’d only had about 800 calories in 8 days. You don’t see it, but the rice was making me vomit. Every time I ate it I was throwing it up. I was trying but I couldn’t stomach it,’ she told Metro.
‘I was then getting dehydrated so stopped eating it. It’s easy for people to say, “just eat the rice” but I was really trying.’
In the lead-up to dropping the money on the cheesy chips, Vicki said the group had encouraged her to spend what was needed to get her energy back up.
‘When I said I thought people would understand after ordering the chips I wasn’t being stupid and naïve, because to my face they were telling me in camp I needed to eat.’
‘I was trying to take the bare minimum to get me through. In that moment what people are failing to grasp was how little I’d eaten in days.’
When the other contestants arrived at the pub to find Vicki eating, an argument erupted, and she was called ‘selfish’ and ‘shameless’. Reflecting at what unfolded, Vicki said she was ‘being screamed at from every angle’.
But after spending a decade as a prison officer Vicki said she wasn’t fazed after being used to ‘people screaming in my face’.
‘The shock for me was that before that they’d been telling me to take food if it was offered [and then turned on me].’
‘If people are going to begrudge me for eating…if they’d offered me a nourishing meal I’d have taken that. I’m not just a greedy girl who wants cheesy chips. I also chose the cheapest thing on the menu.’
Appearing on the show was something that Vicki – who described herself as a ‘working class girl from a council estate’ – admits she initially second guessed accepting.
‘At first I didn’t think it sounded like fun but then I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone,’ she said.
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However, she added: ‘I was so naive! I completely underestimated [how hard I would be].’
‘I didn’t want to spend people’s money, and I was only taking things that would help me get to the end. It’s easy for people sitting at home to judge, but the show would be boring if no-one took any of the temptations too!’
After taking the cheesy chips, Vicki’s decision riled many of the group up, who said she was ‘racking the bills up’.
‘She’s a lovely person, but I’m getting sick of it,’ one said after discovering she’d spent money on a bed and food the night before taking the taxi.
Sam she ‘didn’t trust her at all’ while Nathaniel declared the taxi decision by her and Imani, who also took the ride, was ‘pathetic’.
Their sentiments were echoed by many watching at home.
‘Vicki shouldn’t even been on the show she should of known what to expect she just wants a easy ride think of the others so selfish,’ Chris posted on X.
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‘Vicki you are so lazy and selfish. Why are you even on this show? Her and Imani don’t care about the rest of the group who need the money,’ Emi shared.
‘Got to love the drama over some cheesy chips and a can of coke,’ Marcus added.
The episode ended with Vicki yelling at those calling her out, who also asked why she had signed up for the show knowing how challenging it would be.
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Tempting Fortune continues on Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4.
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