Clare Hilley's Biography

Clare Hilley from Purley was 23, when she entered the BBC's Castaway in 2007.

Clare was the second person to be eliminated from Castaway, voted off by the other contestants.

Before Castaway, Clare, who went to Wallington High School for Girls, had worked briefly as a recruitment consultant.

Clare Hilley, who was training to be a pilot, was the youngest candidate standing in the UK's 2006 local elections. She stood for Upper Norwood whilst she was still a university student.

In February 2009, Clare Hilley won the Waddon by-election and became a Councillor.

Clare is a Conservative and her ambition is to become an M.P. She is head of the London and South branch of Conservative Future.

Clare Hilley's father, Richard, built her a house.

Her interests include gliding, flying, and sailing and her credentials for coping with Castaway include gaining a Level 1 in RAF survival skills.

Asked by the BBC, whom do you most admire, Clare Hilley responded: "a difficult choice between Margaret Thatcher and Elizabeth I."

In the first programme of Castaway, Clare Hilley was revealed as a voluble character, who was not afraid to speak her mind.

She had a curious and volatile interaction with Jonathan Shearer. On BBC3's Castaway Exposed, the anthropologist, Mary-Anne Ochota posited that Jonathan may have a twinkle in his eye for Clare!

Clare Hilley told the South London Press that she did not realise what Castaway would be like:

"It was like Big Brother on a desert island. I'd never have gone on the programme if I'd known it was like that.

"I thought it would be a conservation project - not having microphones and cameras on 24 hours a day.

"But if I had to rate my experience I would give it 10 out of 10. I learnt how to bake some bread and how to fish."