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'Freeze the Fear' viewers love 'uplifting' series as it ends with dramatic bridge jump

Gabby Logan completes her bridge jump. (Hungry Bear Media)
Gabby Logan completes her bridge jump. (Hungry Bear Media)

Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof came to the end of its first series on Tuesday, with viewers calling it "the most uplifting" series they had seen.

The BBC One show challenged celebrities to push their boundaries by plunging into ice pools, taking freezing cold showers and performing yoga poses on a cliff edge, culminating in a dramatic jump and rope swing from a bridge high above the Italian mountains.

Read more: Professor Green opens up on dad's death in emotional Freeze the Fear chat

Gabby Logan, Dianne Buswell, Alfie Boe, Chelcee Grimes, Patrice Evra, Tamzin Outhwaite, Professor Green and Owain Wyn Evans also spoke candidly about their various mental health struggles and tough life experiences during the show.

They were guided through their tasks by Wim "The Iceman" Hof, a cold water therapy expert who has worked with famous athletes and celebrities, and who encouraged them to leap backwards off a terrifyingly high bridge.

Wim Hof in an ice pool
Wim Hof coached the celebrities through their challenges. (Hungry Bear Media)

Professor Green chose not to complete the jump, saying he felt that he would only be doing it to save face and cared more about not putting his life in danger now that he has a baby son.

He said: "My fear is not coming out the other side...if I jumped off the bridge I was doing it for the sake of doing it, I wasn't doing it for myself or any reason, I really didn't want to let go.

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"It really hit me how much I want to be there for my son and my partner. Irrespective of every safety measure that's there, all you can think about is what if there's one that's missing.

"I don't think it's for me to be messing around with my life at this point in it."

Professor Green chose to walk away from the bridge jump. (Hungry Bear Media)
Professor Green chose to walk away from the bridge jump. (Hungry Bear Media)

The rest of the group completed their jumps, including Logan and Outhwaite who had been convinced that they would say no.

Viewers praised the show for taking a different angle to other celebrity series, with one person tweeting: "The best 6 hours of tv in a very long time, absolutely amazing."

Someone else wrote: "#FreezeTheFear has been one of the most uplifting, inspiring, and emotional TV rides that I’ve had for a long time. Wim Hof is an absolute inspiration. Watching the participants face their fears and their issues, and grow individually and collectively has been amazing."

Dianne Buswell celebrates jumping from the bridge. (Hungry Bear Media)
Dianne Buswell celebrates jumping from the bridge. (Hungry Bear Media)

Another viewer added: "#FreezeTheFear was one of the best things I've seen in quite some time. That last episode was so emotional. @Iceman_Hof you are another level of incredible."

Fans of the show also said that they loved the celebrites' openness on issues they were facing, which have included Boe speaking about an attempt to take his own life, Buswell talking about her eating disorder, and Evra sharing the story of being a victim of child sexual abuse.

One viewer tweeted: "Have really loved #FreezeTheFear. Great to see such open conversations around mental health on TV weekly. It all helps to break the stigma around something which is still so taboo."

Freeze the Fear cast
Freeze the Fear's celebrities were a hit with viewers. (Hungry Bear Media)

Someone else wrote: "My goodness! #FreezeTheFear was one of the best thing I’ve ever watched! I LOVE TV like this; all about building each other up, personal development and being totally kick ass. Brava to everyone involved! Brilliant show!! I want to hang out with them all."

Another person added: "What an incredibly uplifting series #FreezeTheFear has been. So many varied back stories and every one on the programme is as focussed on helping out the next person as they are about helping themselves. No egos, just amazing down to earth people."

Watch: Alfie Boe opens up on overdose attempt during depression struggle