I never thought I’d do TV after the military
As he embarks on his first tour, ex-special forces soldier and SAS: Who Dares Wins star Jason Fox talks to Marion McMullen about life at the limit
How would you describe your life At The limit tour?
Life At the Limit is a very honest account of what has been a long and difficult journey, but I do promise it will be inspiring, entertaining, funny and moving in equal measure.
Civilian life has not slowed me and I’m looking forward to sharing my stories with audiences across the UK. From behind-the-scenes anecdotes of filming, some hilarious, others brutal; and what it’s really like when you come face to face with notorious killers, drug cartels, Mexican warlords and hitmen, this will be a no-holdsbarred account of my life to date.
It’s been a long time coming because of Covid. The original dates had to be postponed, but now I’m looking forward to the tour and bringing to life books I have written like Battle Scars and Life Under Fire.
If people have read my books then it is going to be along those lines... and my dramatic career change in the media. The aim is really to bring to life my career I suppose.
I never thought I would be working in television when I left the military. I hated hearing myself speak on TV in the beginning. It took a while to get used to it.
You were only 16 when you joined the military. what work did you later do in the special forces?
I had many different roles in my 10-year stint as a special forces operator. They ranged from demolitions expert to combat swimmer, dog handler, sergeant team leader, counter-terrorist expert and bodyguard.
I’ll be looking at my childhood, my time in the military and the special forces on the tour as well as looking at mental health.
You’ve taken part in expeditions across Alaska, the North pole and the River yukon. what is the most challenging climate?
I prefer the cold. You can just put on another layer to warm up, but if it’s hot, it’s just too hot. You can’t bring along a massive air conditioning unit with you.
I’ve travelled with shorts, a pair of pants, a toothbrush and antibiotics in case of an emergency. I try to keep pretty fit and aim to train every day. It doesn’t always work out like that if I’m busy doing TV, but I try to fit in a couple of hours a day. I’m in fairly good nick for a 46 year old, but muscles have started to ache a bit and if I drink now a hangover will last longer, which is slightly depressing.
How has it been presenting SAS: who Dares wins on Channel 4?
I never thought I would be doing this, but you learn to adapt pretty quickly in the military to get the job done.
It’s natural really in the special forces. People watch SAS: Who Dares Wins before they take part and sometimes they think they are pretty fit and they have done everything they need to do... they have no idea.
They go to the gym and do personal training sessions and lots of burpees, but the best preparation would be to go and live in a puddle for a week. It can be cold and wet and miserable doing the challenges and they are just tired.
It surprises me how some people are not prepared for that when they take part. We will go all out to break that ego. Everyone is on a level playing field.
Do people recognise you away from the television?
I get recognised if I’m away maybe in a town and the TV series in on, but in London nobody cares.
People are just busy getting through life and through their day. It’s not a problem.
Which celebrities have impressed you over the years on the show?
Footballer Wayne Bridge, who won the first series, was very good and AJ Odudu. Very strong and very stoic. You have to be willing to kind of embrace the misery of this kind of show.
What are your plans for the future?
More SAS: Who Dares Wins and hopefully more TV documentaries. Doing Inside The Real Narcos documentary was nerve-wracking to say the least, but I enjoyed it and I enjoy going on the expeditions, but the first thing for 2022 is the tour.
It’s slightly different to what I’ve done before but I am looking forward to it.
(Laughs) I’m always concerned about whether what I am saying is interesting or if I’ll make an absolute hash of it... but I’m ready.
■ The Life At The Limit tour is visiting 30 towns and cities across the UK.
■ Go to ents24.com/uk/tourdates/jason-fox for booking information and tour dates