Good Morning Britain turned chaotic on Monday as Susanna Reid, 55, poured a smoothie over her own head live on air after failing the Smoothie Challenge, leaving co-host Ed Balls, 59, visibly queasy.
The challenge, created by Made In Chelsea star Sam Vanderpump, 29, aims to raise awareness for organ donation, inspired by Sam’s battle with end-stage liver disease. Participants had just nine seconds to drink a pink smoothie — representing the nine lives that can be saved when someone registers as an organ donor — or face the forfeit of pouring it over their heads.
While Ed successfully downed his smoothie in time, Susanna was not as lucky. Ed joked, “Excuse me, I’m about to be really, really sick,” as Susanna bravely tipped the drink over herself. Social media erupted with praise, calling her a “good sport” and applauding her for supporting such a meaningful cause.
Sam Vanderpump, 29, opened up on Made In Chelsea about why he devised the challenge. With a congenital liver condition and polycystic kidney disease, Sam faces serious complications and is now on the transplant waiting list. His doctors encouraged exploring live liver donation, where a living donor gives half a liver, which then regenerates in both donor and recipient.
The emotional reality is captured in his new E4 documentary, Made In Chelsea: Sam Vanderpump’s Story, which follows his journey as he prepares for a potentially life-saving liver transplant while adjusting to fatherhood with his wife, Alice Yaxley, 24, and their newborn son, Marmaduke.
Sam described the progression of his condition and the toll of repeated hospitalisations, including sepsis and organ failure. He admitted to struggling with the weight of decisions, worried about the risks for family members who might donate, and the emotional burden of living with such uncertainty.
The challenge not only highlighted Sam’s fight for survival but also offered a public platform to encourage organ donation. Pink smoothies, nine-second time limits, and playful forfeits turned the segment into a chaotic yet meaningful spectacle that left viewers laughing — and thinking about the serious life-saving cause behind the fun.
Source: Daily Mail
