A single mum from Whitstable is competing to win £100,000 in the BBC’s wilderness reality programme, Survivor.

Rachel Golding is taking part in the physical and psychological challenge, which despite being popular in the US, has been off our screens for 20 years.

In the reboot, Rachel, 40, will be one of 18 competitors divided into two tribes who will battle it out for the £100,000 prize.

The mum-of-three, who has previously been the announcer at Herne Bay FC, said she was motivated to take part by a drive to prove herself as a single mum.

She said: “I wanted my children to know that not having a dad around does not mean that one parent isn’t enough and to show them that anything can be achieved if you put your mind to it.

“My family knew I had the physical ability and the mental strength to take it all on, so they were supportive and my kids were massively proud but also thought it was hilarious.

“It’s what I do, I always do stupid, crazy things like this so they weren’t surprised in the slightest.

“I’d do it again tomorrow. If they called I’d do another series straight away and I’ve already been telling everyone I know to apply. You will love it, it is the most amazing experience.”

The show, hosted by Joel Dommett, will unfold over 16 episodes in which each of the two tribes will dwindle to one champion, who will then face off against one another.

Rachel, who has also presented radio on the Isle of Sheppey’s station BRFM, said she thinks her experience as a football coach helped her collaborate with others while living in the wilderness..

Along with the £100,000 prize, the last person standing will be crowned the sole Survivor.

Rachel, whose daredevil attitude has previously found her skydiving, said she has always been interested in survival skills and was the first girl to join her childhood cub pack.

She described her time filming in the tropics as “awe-inspiring”, with many experiences she’ll never forget.

She said: “It’s just something you can never experience again. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, it’s not every day you wake up with ten other people in bed with you on an island looking out to the sea, have to forage for food or do all these challenges to survive.

“One day I woke up at 4am and I was just looking out at the view over the sea and one half of the sky was clear as anything and I could see shooting stars.

“Then the other half of the sky was an enormous electrical storm with thunder striking down. It’s never going to leave me that sight, the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Surreal.”

Natalka Znak, CEO of Remarkable Entertainment, which produces told Digital Spy: "Survivor is 'the greatest game show on earth' for a reason – it has everything – reality, adventure, drama, and the ultimate game.”

You can catch the first episode of Survivor UK in more than 20 years this Saturday, October 28 on BBC One.