A detective constable from Oxfordshire has joined a group of castaways on Channel 4's reality TV show The Island with Bear Grylls.

Two separate groups from two different generations have been abandoned on a pair of remote uninhabited islands in the Pacific Ocean by Chief Scout Mr Grylls.

One of the groups is aged 18 to 30 while Jacqui Redgard,a detective with Thames Valley Police, is with the older group of castaways.

In the first episode of the fourth series of 'the ultimate survival test' Ms Redgard swam to the rescue when businessman Frank Rothwell, 66, got into difficulty when he was attempting to swim from one island to another.

The detective constable and another contestant swam to his rescue and guided him safely back to the shore.

Ms Redgard has 25 years' experience in the police force.

She said: "I've got to the ripe old age of 50 but there's life in the old dog yet!

The detective added that 'kindness conquers all' and said she saw herself as being able to work well as part of a team, with the ability to remain calm in tough situations.

Once the teams are on the islands they have to fend for themselves, armed only with survival training, the clothes they stand up in, medical supplies, some basic tools, and fishing equipment.

Mr Grylls said series four, with episodes now being shown every week, was 'the hardest season we have ever done'.

He added: "We had horrific conditions, beyond anything we've ever seen over five years of this show.

"You never know quite what you are going to get but this year The Island with Bear Grylls really did go quite Lord of the Flies.

"Every hour brings a fresh twist and turn. And it's a full-on mental, physical, emotional and spiritual assault."