Survivor Charlotte back on beat

Pc Hobrough returns to the force after a three-year career break

Charlotte Hobrough, the £1m winner of reality TV show Survivor, is back on the beat in south Wales after giving up her dream of working in television.

The 28-year-old former beauty queen had taken a three-year career break as a police constable after scooping the top prize in the tropical island game show.

She had hoped the win would launch her into a new television career.

Back in her £23,000 pa job, she denied she is need of the money, saying: "It was not what I thought it would be."

Ms Hobrough won her seven-figure prize on the ITV1 gameshow in July 2001.

Winning Survivor was a wonderful experience but it's time to get back to normality Charlotte Hobrough

She spent 40 days on the island of Pulua Tiga, in the South China Sea as one of 16 volunteer "castaways" who had to battle against the conditions and local wildlife for the top prize.

The show failed to pull in huge TV audiences, despite a second series, but Ms Hobrough hit the headlines when it was reported she had an affair with a male contestant.

She took a career break from South Wales Police to take part in the show and went on to present ITV1's Big Breakfast and ITV2's coverage of the second series of Survivor.

She and police sergeant husband Mark, 32, bought out on a £400,000 five-bedroom home and a Porsche as well as a string of luxury holidays.

But the offers of work to establish herself in television did not come through.

'Back to normality'

And she is once again pounding the pavement in Barry as part of the force's the Community First Policing Team.

She said: "Winning Survivor was a wonderful experience but it's time to get back to normality.

"My time away from the force was only ever a career break. I'm back at work because I miss the challenge of being in the police force."

Superintendent Josh Jones, Commander of Vale of Glamorgan police, has welcomed her back.

He said: "I worked with Pc Hobrough before she went on her career break.

"She was a very professional, competent and highly motivated police officer. I am delighted to welcome her back to the division."

Ms Hobrough's husband is also a serving officer with South Wales Police and last year faced a trial after being accused of a sex attack on a fellow Pc.

But Mr Hobrough - given a national bravery award for disarming a knife-wielding murderer who killed a jeweller - was cleared of all charges and his wife stood by him throughout.