Don't Look Down - Interview with Beverley Callard
Category: Press Pack ArticleHow much did you know about what you were going to be thrown into before signing up for Don’t Look Down?
We weren’t prepped for exactly what we were going to be doing!
Tell me more…
Before we went, they said the training would be in Austria and it will be to help you with your core strength and with heights. However, they didn’t say we’d be jumping off bridges – oh my God. Paddy and I were the first to do the challenge on the bridge. We had to go to the highest bridge in Europe… climb over the wall of the bridge and stand on this miniscule platform with our heels hanging over the edge. They harnessed us together as well. We thought, is it a bungee? They explained, it wasn’t a bungee, we just fall till the rope has gone tight, and then we swing.
What was your reaction?
You can imagine the commentary from Paddy and I, “Beep! Beep! What the beep!” Paddy’s like, “How you feeling, luv?” And I’ve going, “I’m absolutely terrified, are you terrified?” He went, “I’m f***ing terrified!” We’re like, we can’t back out, it’s for Stand Up to Cancer, we’ve said we’ll do this, we can’t let the nation down!
We don’t know how we did it, but we went backwards and then headfirst. We got to the end [of the rope], and we’re swinging like mad… and honestly the air is blue [from swearing]. The worst bit was being pulled back up because it was so slow…
Why did you want to take part in the show in the first place?
I have to say, I’m not into reality shows that much. I don’t watch them. I did do I’m a Celebrity… in Covid – it was amazing, scary because of the challenges, and we were in Wales, and it was freezing, but we did have a really good time. I did think that’s the only one, I won’t do any more now. But then when I was asked to do this, I just thought, I can’t say no.
I had cancer when I was 32 – I’m fine now, absolutely fine now. But a very dear friend of mine died in my arms a few years ago of cancer. I even lost a dog to cancer, a very young dog. And another very dear friend of mine is suffering from bone cancer. I think when you talk to people, it touches everybody in some way; even if it’s not touched them personally, it’s touched someone they love.
If it had been – I don’t know – a highly intellectual quiz show or something, I would have absolutely said no, because – listen, I always say no to those, because I wouldn’t be able to remember my own name [laughs]. But normally, I’m quite a brave person, and so I thought, I’ve got to say yes.
Also, I’m 66 years old, and a lot of the time, women in our business can become invisible almost. Our business is very ageist. You look at films and more often than not, there’ll be a 60-year-old man, but he has a 40-year-old wife, nearly all the time. If it were the other way around, they’d make a big thing of it and say, “She’s a cougar,” or whatever. It’s just accepted that way and it shouldn’t be. And I just thought, I’m still quite feisty, I am really fit, I’ve got amazing core strength… I’ve got to have a go.
How did you find balancing on the high wire?
I jumped off bridges, I leaned off mountains, but on that high wire, I am s*** – I’m s***. I can’t believe it. I’m so brave, but I am completely rubbish at it.
Is it because of how heavy the balancing pole is?
It’s the pole. I can’t do it. I’ve got biceps, I’ve got core strength. Could I stay on that wire? No! If they’re [the experts] holding the pole at the end, brilliant. Apparently, my feet were really good, and I could do it that way, but as soon as they let go of the pole, off I fell.
Did you do anything to prepare for training beforehand? I mean, there’s not many ways you can practice the highwire!
I have got a washing line, but I don’t think it would cope [laughs]. I teach fitness a couple of times a week, so I’m quite fit anyway.
How are you with heights? Do you have an issue with them?
Well, I didn’t think I did. You know, I don’t mind flying, I’ve been in a helicopter and I’ve paraglided just once – I didn’t really enjoy it, it was quite frightening. I coped with that quite well. But even on the low wire, I’m terrible. There was one night – and I’m ashamed to say it – I was in tears. I had a meltdown. I couldn’t believe I was so bad at something.
At half-past three in the morning, I was walking along the lines of the panelling on the floor in my hotel room crying. I was still falling over in my bloody bedroom. I rang [my husband] Jon and I said, “I can’t do it, I’m absolutely terrible,” and Jon was going, “Beverley, it doesn’t matter, even if you fall off on the day, you’ll be harnessed, it doesn’t matter, you’re doing it for Stand Up to Cancer.” I text my daughter, Rebecca, saying, “I can’t do it!” And I am so not like that, so it did get to me.
Are there any other challenges you’d like to do?
On our WhatsApp group from Don’t Look Down, somebody posted about a ‘moonlight swing’, where you drop down, but it’s in the moonlight. I’d love to have a go at that.
Sounds quite romantic.
I don’t think it’s romantic [laughs]. It’s like me and Paddy jumping off the bridge, but in the dark.
What’s next for you? Any acting plans?
I’m not really allowed to talk about this too much, but I’m doing a comedy, an amazing comedy. I start filming that in a couple of weeks. Then I’m straight into panto. I live in Norfolk – I’ve lived here for over a year – and when the panto offers started to come in – because of course, when you’re in Coronation Street, you’re not allowed to do that, they won’t let you. I left in 2020, and when the offers started to come in, I said to my agent, “Please get me Norwich, so I can sleep in my own bed,” and they did. So, I’m playing the baddie. It’s Sleeping Beauty and I’m playing Carabosse, the wicked fairy. They’ve just told me one of the songs I’m singing. I can’t tell you what it is yet, but that’s a bit scary – it’s an anthem.