Lucie Loves... Life // Why I spent 5-days and 5-nights in solitary confinement, as part of a Channel 5 TV show
Back in October 2016, I took part in a social experiment which aired on Channel 5 as a one-off 90 minute documentary called 'In Solitary' produced by Stellify Media. The challenge? Spend 5-days and 5-nights in solitary confinement, with no technology, daylight, books, concept of time, and only three personal items to keep yourself entertained...
The experience was life-changing for all involved.
When the programme aired on Bank Holiday Monday in August 2017, I received so many questions from friends, family, followers on social media and viewers of the show. I wanted to film this video to answer as many of those questions as possible,to shine a light on why – as a blogger and a pretty freshly heartbroken woman – I decided to subject myself to such an extreme experiment.
Thank you to everyone for your kind words and messages of support. It means the world!
Below are a few photos that I took just after getting out of the box I couldn't resist documenting the world I'd created for myself! Watch the vlog to find out more about the experience and see inside the insolation pod.
My arm, on the morning of that day I went into solitary confinement (like something out of Memento) with all of my exercises off my PT, Richard Burrell, scribbled down in biro!
Lloyd, Charmayne, and me – walking through the old B&Q warehouse in Belfast and seeing the 'In Solitary' isolation pods for the very first time.
Lloyd, Charmayne and myself, meeting George Lamb and the doc, before spending 5-days and 5-nights in solitary confinement.
Home Sweet Home! Isolation pod #1 – my everything for the next 5-days and 5-nights. No daylight. No technology. No contact with the outside world. No books. No concept of time.
My whiteboard. Exercises off my arm were transcribed asap, as soon as I got myself settled in "the box" – this was to keep myself occupied (and sane) for the remainder of the challenge.
Art kept me occupied. I was so pleased to have taken my watercolour paint set in with me. Here are the funny little portraits I did of my friends hair styles.
The room was a simple portacabin, comprising of a single bed, pillow, mattress and duvet. Cameras filmed you 24-hours a day (even as you slept) and you had to wear a microphone at all times (except when going to the portaloo, behind a screen. There was no shower facilities, so I had to make do with a sponge wash...
The tiny radiator and kettle bell (one of my three personal items) – exercise definitely helped keep me focused, tire me out and remain positive., despite being alone.
The isolation pods had no windows – so I decided to paint myself a view instead. Thank goodness for that big fat roll of lining paper... It came in handy as an exercise mat, paper to create a journal and art canvases too.
Lloyd Wilkinson and Lucie Kerley, fresh from getting out of solitary cinfinement
It felt so good to go to sleep without being filmed, that very first night after getting out of the box. It's exhausting to know that your every move is being followed.
Existing on only ration packs for 5-days and exercising a lot meant that I looked a little bit scrawny (and sweaty) when I eventually checked into my hotel, after completing the social experiment. That first shower felt so good!
My ginger 'fro – I couldn't wash my hair for 5-days...
About In Solitary
Find out more about the experiment: http://www.channel5.com/show/in-solit...
Missed the TV show? Watch 'In Solitary' on Channel 5 catch up (available until 28 August, 2019): https://www.my5.tv/in-solitary-the-an...
Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Thanks for watching.