Daredevil Mike pays second Total Wipeout visit
A Telford man has had a second chance to complete TV's Total Wipeout course – and his big day will be shown to millions of viewers this weekend.
Mike Yapp, 32, from Randlay, was invited back on to the BBC show, where competitors have to negotiate giant obstacles and avoid the water.
He was invited back because his previous attempt had ended in spectacular failure.
On his first go, two years ago, Mike didn't even manage to get to one of the show's most popular obstacles – and his failure has followed him ever since.
"Every time I tell people I've been on Total Wipeout they always ask two things: Did I meet Richard Hammond and how did I get on with the big red balls," he said.
"The first time I went on, I fell into the water on the first go and sort of forgot how to swim because I hadn't done it for so long.
"I exhausted myself getting back on to the course and after ending up in the mud I couldn't go on.
"They made it into a two minute segment, and they invited me back so I must have been entertaining."
While Mr Yapp can't say what happens on the show, he said he set a new personal best."I have always wanted to go back and try the balls again and I got that far this time – so I can now answer people when they ask me how I did on them."
Filming took place in Argentina last January and he said it was over in a flash. "You got flown over there and you record the first round on one day and then everything else on the next day and then you're back on the way home."
Mr Yapp said while he didn't get to meet presenter Richard Hammond, he was interviewed by co-host Amanda Byram.
He said: "The first time I went out there she was really nice. I think she knows people are nervous, so she calms people down."
Total Wipepout is on BBC1 this Saturday at 5.30pm.
