Channel 4 sparks controversy as they sign Peru Two jailbird Michaella McCollum for star-studded reality show

CHANNEL 4 has sparked controversy after signing up Peru Two jailbird Michaella McCollum for one of their star-studded reality shows.

The 27-year-old, who was arrested back in 2013 at a airport in Peru on suspicion of drug smuggling alongside Melissa Reid, has joined the latest series of Celebrity SAS.

There have already been rumours that reality TV star Callum Izzard is going to take part in the sixth instalment of the celebrity version of SAS Who Dares Wins.

The Sun exclusively revealed that footballer Troy Deeney will also be taking part in the show.

Michaella will also be put through her paces on the programme and filming has already started in Wales.

A TV insider said: “Signing up Michaella is a huge coup for Channel 4.

“They know it will be a huge talking point and generate lots of column inches.

“Of course there will be some members of the public who won’t agree with Michaella getting a platform like this, but she’s determined to show a different side of her.

“She’s served her time and wants to be known for more than this terrible mistake she made when she was younger.”

Michaella and Melissa were both just 20-years-old when they were arrested at Lima Airport in 2013.

They were dubbed the Peru Two as they hit headlines.

They travelled to Peru on August 15 and were caught trying to leave the country with 11kg cocaine worth £1.5 million two days later.

The pair faced the prospect of a maximum 15-year prison term, but struck a behind-closed-doors plea bargain to secure the shorter sentence.

Michaella and Melissa pleaded guilty to drug smuggling and in December 2013 were sentenced to six years and eight months in prison.

They served time at Virgen de Fatima prison in Lima, but then moved to Ancon 2 prison.

In April 2016 Peruvian authorities agreed to expel Melissa from the country and she was released from prison on 21 June and immediately returned home to Scotland.

Michaella then arrived in Dublin airport on 13 August 2016.

After being released from prison, Michaella wrote her own book You’ll Never See Daylight Again about her experience.

Then in 2022, High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule, was released on Netflix – which is based on what happened back in 2013.

Last year Michaella graduated from University of Ulster with a degree in Business Management, Marketing and Related Support Services.

She’s also a mum of two – her twin boys Rafael Genie and Rio Addison.