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Kent model to appear on E4's new show Naked, Alone and Racing to Get Home
13:34, 06 April 2023
updated: 14:14, 06 April 2023
Would you hike outdoors naked? For three days? And be filmed for national TV?
For one man from Rusthall in Tunbridge Wells the question wasn't "would you?" but how far?
Luke Clampitt is a contestant on the new survival series on E4 Naked, Alone and Racing to get Home and isn't one to shy away from a challenge.
In the show, naked contestants race to find their way to a final location with nothing but a pair of boots, a knife, a flint and steel, and a map.
The 54 -year-old is use to rocking nothing but his birthday suit as he has been a model, both with and without clothes, for around 10 years, first getting into it by chance.
He said: "I was booked in for a gig as a photographer years ago and one of the models didn't turn up so I stepped in.
"From that a friend of mine had a live modelling session and she asked 'you reckon you can fill in for me?' and from that I fell into the profession."
"It was one of the most empowering things I've ever done.
"It's quite intimidating to stand there in front of people with nothing on but then to see the artwork they make, the 10 to15 people you're in front of making the same pose, they all paint something completely different.
"It's pretty amazing really, I feel quite privileged to see the artwork they make."
Alongside modelling and photography, Luke shares his time between acting, engineering, and personal training. He even stars in the new Luton airport advert with his wife Helen.
Luke says he is passionate about promoting body positivity.
He continued: "My whole life I worried about what I looked like but I am now a big advocate of people not caring and getting on with life and enjoying themselves - all for body positivity."
So when the opportunity rose its head for Luke to bare all for the sake of entertainment he snatched at it with both hands.
"My wife said I had to go for it and when I told my kids they weren't surprised."
"When opportunities come up so many people don't take them, even if it sounds like hard work, its an opportunity and even if it it doesn't work out you can at least say you tried.
"One of the things was I wanted to promote by doing it was body positivity. It doesn't matter how old you are you can do anything.
"They wanted real people and not all survivalists and I think the show has done really well in doing that."
In the show, contestants are paired up with a partner, who they don't know, and have to navigate around some of Britain’s toughest countryside.
Luke said: "The hardest thing was the cold. During the day was fine but at night it surprised me - it was far was than what I thought it would be.
"It was touch and go whether or not I'd finish.
"The emotions were quite intense as well. I first met my partner on the day and then we were wandering round together for three days.
"Luckily we worked well together but it does sound like not everyone got on."
It was an experience he wouldn't forget and one he said he would take up again.
He said: "If I got the chance to do it again there are things I would've done differently but I won't say what they are as I think they may be using it in the show so you'll have to watch and see."
Wife Helen, who is also a live model, is following in her husband's footsteps starring on Channel 4's Naked Education - a show which aims to "normalise all body types".
The educational show aired the first of six episodes on Tuesday, with each one coming out weekly. All episodes are also available now On Demand.
"For us not having clothes on for a living is just who we are," Luke said. "It's not anything sexual or sensual it's a job.
"Artists need a model to work with and have something to paint. Live modelling isn't as easy as people think, it's a surprising challenge."
He added: "As you can see we don't live the conventional lifestyle."
The first episode of Naked, Alone and Racing to get Home airs tonight at 9pm on E4.
Luke's episode has been scheduled for April 27.
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