The celebrities facing up to life on the street

Find out what inspired Julia, Kim, Nick and Willie to take part in the programme, and what their experiences living as homeless people taught them.

Julia is one of Britain’s best known television presenters, bringing us Countryfile, Wainwright’s Walks, and Planet Earth Live. Julia can currently be seen going in search of the perfect walks on ITV's 'Best Walks With A View'.

The most shocking thing was how quickly I deteriorated and lost my confidence

Julia Bradbury

Living in London, Julia walks past people who are homeless every day. She wanted to take up the Famous, Rich and Homeless challenge to understand what life living rough on the streets is really like.

She says: "I quickly learned that the physical exhaustion and sleep deprivation is demoralising and has a profound impact on your mental health. The most shocking thing was how quickly I deteriorated and lost my confidence. Every moment is spent working out where to stay warm, where to pee, where to get money from and where you’re going to sleep. You have to carry your belongings with you in case they get stolen (or wet if it rains). It leaves you feeling worthless and invisible.

But I also experienced extraordinary acts of kindness. Thank you to the lady who gave me £10 for a hostel bed on my first night. I paid that money forward to another homeless man on my last day. And thank you to Stephen, my new friend who took me to his favourite archway to sleep rough with me one night, when he could have been in a hostel bed.

I tell my children every day how lucky we are to have a safe, warm home. The comfort of being able to stay clean, enjoy time with friends and family, eat healthy food and to sleep in a comfy clean bed – these are the things I never take for granted. And after this experience, I never will.

They say that homelessness can happen to anyone. I met people who were living comfortable happy lives and then it all went horribly wrong, very quickly."

Kim found fame and fortune as a presenter of 'How Clean Is Your House', but as a teenager she was once made homeless. Forced to leave a violent home and struggling to find work, Kim slept rough on a bench in Liverpool.

As a teenager, Kim was made homeless and slept rough on the streets of Liverpool

She agreed to take part in Famous, Rich and Homeless for Sport Relief because she fought her way out of homelessness and believes in supporting people who want to do the same.

At 73 years old, Kim bravely took on the challenge of sleeping rough on the streets of London with no money, no phone, no identity, and zero creature comforts.

The average age of death for a woman living on the streets is just 43 years old. Kim’s determination and endurance was put to the test like never before.

Comedian Nick Hancock is best known for hosting former BBC One sports quiz They Think It’s All Over.

Nick realised that there's more to homelessness than not having a place to live

Initially skeptical about whether he'd get a true insight into homelessness on Famous, Rich and Homeless, his cynicism was swept away after just a couple of days.

Nick became immersed in London’s homeless community and was moved by the extraordinary kindness that homeless people showed him. When he spent three difficult days with two friends living on the streets in South East London he began to realise that there's more to homelessness than not having a roof over your head.

Ex-snooker pro Willie Thorne is used to the finer things in life and is blessed with a wife who does everything for him.

Willie's gambling addiction has already resulted in bankruptcy and if he gambles again he could lose his house

Sleeping rough on the streets of London was always going to be tough, but for Willie it soon became the hardest thing he has ever done. Willie agreed to do Famous, Rich and Homeless for Sport Relief to highlight the UK’s growing homeless problem - but also as a wake up call to himself.

A 40 year addiction to gambling has already resulted in bankruptcy and if he gambles again he will probably lose his house. When Willie meets a homeless man called Per - a former company director now living in a tent - they discover just how thin the line is between having it all and being homeless.

Willie says of their close friendship, “We shed a tear or two in the park, we will stay in touch."