Charlotte Freeman, who competed in the reality show Shipwrecked, has just returned home
and is waiting impatiently to watch the programme with her family. The 18-year-old from
Gainford spent the last 20 weeks on a tiny, mile-wide island in the Pacific. Charlotte broke
down in tears when her team lost the prize of £70,000 but she says she would do it all over
again. She also thanked the producers and all the participants for making it the adventure
of a lifetime.
“Now that I’m back I would advise going on it to anyone,” she says, “but I had a hard time
at the beginning. When you go out there you don’t know anybody. You know you’re going
to be filmed 24 hours a day but at first it’s a nuisance; it took me four days to get used to it.
But eventually the cameramen turned out to be a great support during the show. I really met
some absolutely amazing people along the way, and I don’t mean only the people on my
team. For instance, Katie Rose is now my best friend although we were competing against
each other in the show.” And when journalists ask Charlotte in what way the experience has
changed her, she answers “I don’t think I have changed a great deal but I’m more relaxed
now, less worried about what people think of me and more independent. I have a different
perspective on life. I know that you shouldn’t escape from problems, you have to face them
and find a way out. And I’m not going to wait for others to make decisions for me. I want
to make the most of life and Shipwrecked has certainly given me the confidence to do so.”
Charlotte was enthusiastically welcomed on her return to Gainford. Her friends had put up
posters with her photo on them all around the town and organised a huge surprise party with
her family, friends and neighbours present. “It was a nice thought,” Charlotte says.
“There were so many people. The show has just started on TV and I already feel like a star.
I’m glad that they chose such a nice photo for the posters! Now I can’t wait to see the opening
episode of the show which my mum recorded. I wonder how our life on the island is
presented on screen.”
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