Australian actress and singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte is reportedly turning her back on the world of reality television following an intensely challenging appearance on the gruelling series Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
A Physically Demanding Wake-Up Call
Insiders have revealed to the Daily Mail that the 50-year-old former Neighbours star found the elite military-style training programme so arduous it has prompted a major career rethink. The show, which films overseas alongside its UK counterpart, subjects celebrities to extreme conditions and relentless physical trials.
A source close to Natalie explained, "She knew it would be tough but not that tough. SAS is a completely different beast to anything she's done before." The experience was said to be so demanding that it took a heavy toll, leaving Natalie privately questioning her future in such formats.
Questioning Her Place in Reality TV
"She's been very open with people close to her about struggling," the insider continued. "She felt her body just wasn't responding the way she needed it to. That was really confronting for her." The source added that Natalie even mused she might have coped better with the ordeal years ago.
Despite pushing through and completing the series professionally, those around her view the experience as a significant turning point rather than a failure. "She doesn't regret doing it. But it was a wake-up call," the friend stated.
Closing the Chapter on Celebrity Reality
As a result, Natalie—who has previously appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and The Amazing Race—has reportedly made a firm decision about her career direction. "She's been very clear that she won't be doing these shows again. She feels that chapter of her career is done," the source confirmed.
Instead, the star is shifting her focus back to creative pursuits that align with her current life stage. She is understood to be concentrating on acting, music, and other projects that do not require extreme physical endurance. "She feels she doesn't have anything left to prove," the insider added.
Reflecting on her SAS journey on Instagram, Natalie wrote, "Being pushed beyond limits was eye opening, spiritually, mentally, emotionally and of course physically! But I DID it!" She described it as a moment that changes "the trajectory of it all."
The upcoming eighth season of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, filmed in North Africa and featuring Australian and English stars competing head-to-head, is set to air in January. The Daily Mail has approached Natalie's representatives for comment.
