1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: It's the Hammer and Nigel Show. My name is Nigel. 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: The show is called Special Forces World's Toughest Tests. Airs 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: Thursdays on Fox and returning as directing staff agent, one 4 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: badass military mofo, Britain's elite special Air Service, former celebrity bodyguard, 5 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: returning as directing staff agent for Special Forces. It's Billy 6 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: Billing and Billy, what an absolute honor it is to 7 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,599 Speaker 1: have you here on the Hammer of Nigel Show. How 8 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: are you? Nigel? 9 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 2: Honestly, it's enough salute owner to be able to speak 10 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 2: to yourself and the audience of the US, which I 11 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 2: absolutely adore my wife's America Aspectil, I'm over there. A 12 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 2: lot of people love the country. So no, honestly, the 13 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 2: honest mine, So thank you. 14 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: The show is intriguing, not as intriguing as your background 15 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: and military career. I really want to get to that here, 16 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: so I want to be respectful of your time. But 17 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: tell me about Special Forces the World's Toughest Test. You're 18 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: in season four in Morocco. What is the show? And 19 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: you've certainly got a cast of celebrity characters on this 20 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: one for sure. 21 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, Michelle is born out of a SR we did 22 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: in the UK some ten years ago, where we've got 23 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 2: basically four Special Forces guys together and came up with 24 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 2: what is now a show, but we call it a 25 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 2: course of pushing people physically, mentally, and emotionally and spiritually 26 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 2: in some places to a point where they've never been before. 27 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 2: And it's all based on Like myself, I've got twenty 28 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 2: seven years plus experience and the rest of the team 29 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 2: got something similar, so hundreds of years of experience all 30 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 2: over the globe, mainly in our ship with great sacrifices. 31 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 2: So it's all the lessons we learned that gave us 32 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 2: the mindset, the survival instinct and the skills to be 33 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 2: able to be who we are today, you know, having 34 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: done all the time of the nursery left and become 35 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 2: I like to say, better people and giving back to 36 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 2: the world. So that's what the show is born out of. 37 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 2: That's what it's about, putting people who want to find 38 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 2: out what that mindset's like, what that really means to 39 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 2: do what we do, or a very very small version 40 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 2: of it, I have to say, but it is still 41 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 2: brutal and I have to say as well, anyone that 42 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 2: comes on the show. It takes a lot of great 43 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 2: determination to do that and put yourself in the limelight. Now, 44 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 2: whether they leave on day one or they get to 45 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 2: the end, it doesn't really matter as long as they've 46 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 2: given their best because everything that one of them will 47 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 2: walk away a better version of themselves. And I think 48 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 2: I've never heard anybody say any different. 49 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: So you put these celebrities and there's a bunch of 50 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: NFL players this season, Johnny Manzel's one of them. Justin Smallette, 51 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,119 Speaker 1: who is surrounded in controversy in this country a couple 52 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: of years back. Is you put these celebrities through courses 53 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: and challenges that people in the Special Forces have had 54 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: to gone through officially to become say and you know, 55 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: Special Air Service. So they're they're doing things. You're putting 56 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: them through these challenges that you once had to go 57 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: through yourself. 58 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely that you know. And every single day will 59 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 2: challenge the physically, mentally, and emotion As I was saying, physically, 60 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 2: they will be pushed. No matter whether you're an awfully 61 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 2: an actor. I don't care how fit you are or 62 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: think you are, this will be something you have never 63 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 2: done before. Because what we do, we take away all 64 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 2: the luxuries it's all about and I know it's a 65 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: cliche being comfortable with being uncomfortable. 66 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, I've seen the show. It does not look 67 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: there's no there's nothing comfortable about Special Forces the world stuff. 68 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 1: It's death christ me and especially with. 69 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: You as it's all those experiences. 70 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: Especially with you as directing staff agent. But what does 71 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: it mean to be We're speaking with Billy Billingham, Directing 72 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: Staff Agents, Special Forces World's Toughest Test Thursdays on Fox. 73 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: What does it mean to be directing staff agent for 74 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: the show? 75 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 2: It means you are one of the four teams that 76 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 2: are pattering on that experience more than years of experience. 77 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 2: You you we literally direct produce the show and push 78 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 2: them start to face. There's no script, there's no retakes, 79 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 2: there's no let's have a look at that again. It 80 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 2: goes and it goes on our basis, you know. But 81 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 2: the people who all the show, the channels, they listen 82 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 2: to us, they go right because you've you've got this 83 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: process and away we go. And it follows the ethos 84 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 2: of the Special Forces. So once I will be in 85 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 2: the desert, met in the jungle, will be in the 86 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 2: open plains of Europe, will be in the the above 87 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 2: the skyline, above the snow line, in the in the cold. 88 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 2: So we push them through all these environments with all 89 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: the skill sets that we have had being part of 90 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 2: the director and staff. Is down to us to run 91 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 2: that train, put them to a point where we don't 92 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 2: kill them or break them off. Let's get the pressed 93 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 2: out of them. 94 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: Talk about the safety protocols because because you know, I 95 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: would assume, like knowing if I'm a celebrity participating in 96 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: this and like I'm you know, the plane is being 97 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: submerged in the water and water is filling up to 98 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: your neck. You know in the back of your mind, 99 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: there's safety protocols there. But that doesn't really seem to 100 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 1: have an effect on the people that are participating in 101 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: this show, even knowing the back of their head. Ultimately 102 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: they're not going to die. But that doesn't really seem 103 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: to play into it at all, does it. 104 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 2: No, it doesn't, because they really give buy into it, 105 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 2: and right it's only sure because there are certain things 106 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: if you don't, if you don't listen and get it right, 107 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 2: you can get hurt. It could go wrong, and God forbid. 108 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 2: And on touching the table, We've never had that because 109 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 2: we do up safe of course is in place. Of 110 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: course is a realistic scenario, and we get them so 111 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 2: involved in it where they you know, they picture it, 112 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 2: they feel it, and it's based on experiences that we've 113 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 2: all really been through. Where we didn't that's no safety, 114 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 2: you know, and unfortunately some of our people never came 115 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 2: home on that we learned. So they buy into that 116 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 2: and understand this is what these guys are gone through, 117 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: this is why they go for it, and they really do. Yeah, 118 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 2: I'm pretty sure. And once they're tired, you know, they're 119 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 2: depart to sleep, deprived of food, they really get involved 120 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 2: in it and they're like, wow, this is and they 121 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 2: feel like they're going to die. I mean, you lead 122 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 2: them say it on the show. They're trying to kill us. 123 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:43,679 Speaker 2: We're trying to get the best out of you. 124 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, but it certainly is intense. Billy Billingham is the 125 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:51,799 Speaker 1: directing staff agent Fox show The Special Forces World's Toughest 126 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: Test Thursdays on Fox. Billy, I mean, like, I know 127 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 1: you guys don't like to brag about yourself that what 128 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: does it take to become part of Britain's elite Special 129 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: Air Service, the SAS you did that. That was in 130 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,719 Speaker 1: the early nineties, didn't you be You transitioned to become 131 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: a bodyguard to some of the biggest named celebrities on earth. 132 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: Can you just tell us about yourself and your the 133 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: trajectory of your career and how you ended up where 134 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: you're at now. 135 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 2: Well, I'll cut it sure, But I started very un 136 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 2: up beginnings. You know. I was in a very poor 137 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 2: family where we grew up. I ended up in gangs 138 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 2: at the age of nine. By eleven, I was I 139 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: had a criminal record for fighting, getting trouble by the 140 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: age of thirteen, thrown out of school, so I had 141 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 2: no education. But I found the military. After fifteen, I 142 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 2: ended up in a gang fight and got stabbed and 143 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 2: then he died, and that was a turning point, looking 144 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 2: at my family and thinking, Wow, what am I doing. 145 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 2: I've got to change my life. So then luckily I 146 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 2: recovered and I joined the parachute Regiment in the military 147 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 2: as a young seventeen year old boy. At the time, 148 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 2: you know where problem's going. Nor islanded a few little 149 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 2: things around the world, the Falklands and stuff like that. 150 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 2: And when I joined at seventeen, it was seven zero 151 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 2: seventy of us all turned up on day one. By 152 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 2: the time we finished, there was only seven of us left. 153 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: Oh wow. 154 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 2: And then I joined my battalion, went around the world. 155 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 2: First place ended up in Waso the Jungle of believed 156 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 2: in nineteen eighty four. That was the first time I 157 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 2: came to America, by the way, for Mudadell, But that's 158 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: another story. So then I did nine years with a 159 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 2: parachute regiment. I got operational experience, and then I went 160 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 2: to the SAS. When I went to the SAS, two 161 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 2: hundred and eighty three of us turned up on day one. 162 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 2: By the end of the training six months later, there 163 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 2: was only again seven of us left. 164 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: Wow. 165 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 2: The NBS Wow, and a wild, wild career, you know, 166 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 2: all over the globe and finishing off as started to 167 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 2: manager of set, leading Tier one operations for the last 168 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 2: sort of six and seven years alongside our American brothers, 169 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 2: I have to say, which was amazing. Well then yeah, 170 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 2: and then came a time, as you know, twenty seven 171 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 2: and twenty eight years of service, of what do we 172 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 2: do now? And I had to leave the military. I 173 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:11,079 Speaker 2: didn't know too, but I knew it was time to 174 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 2: leave the military and the bathroom for the younger people 175 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 2: and became a celebrity of bodyguard, became a bodyguard and 176 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,079 Speaker 2: you know, with some some real good people, and again 177 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 2: it was about lessons learned. I gave them what they needed. 178 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 2: They gave me new experiences and it was a wonderful 179 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 2: time and they've bought them to date. During that process 180 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 2: of going through the military, I got decorated by the 181 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 2: Queen and manes to the Queen Couplessor twice, so you 182 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 2: know I had a great career. 183 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: The show is Special Forces, the World's Toughest Test Thursdays 184 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: on Fox. He is directing Staph Agent Billy Billingham. Thank 185 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:47,559 Speaker 1: you so much. It's honored a pleasure to talk to you. 186 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: And if I urge everybody to go find like a 187 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 1: podcast with Billy, because I've listened to some of your 188 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: podcasts that you've been interviewed on intriguing really, I mean, 189 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: you get into you get in depth much more than 190 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: we have time for here now. So good luck on 191 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: the show and have a great week. And I am serious. 192 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: Just type in Billy Billingham in iTunes or wherever you 193 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: get your podcasts, Spotify, wherever. He's done dozens of interviews 194 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: and the background, what he's been through in his military career, 195 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: all the way up to transitioning to being a bodyguard 196 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: for Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise and other high profile celebrities. 197 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: The trajectory of his career has just been amazing. So 198 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: what just a complete honor to talk to him. We'll 199 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: be right back at say Hammer and Nigel Show.