Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby ‘set to receive $150,000 for military show SAS Australia’

The starting salary for the contestants on Channel Seven’s new show SAS Australia is said to be a whopping $150,000.

The Sydney Morning Herald claims that the figure also applies to drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, 43, for her upcoming appearance on the military-style show, which is set to entertain audiences for two weeks.

Corby’s reported pay packet will undoubtedly raise eyebrows after Channel Seven received intense scrutiny for giving a convicted drug trafficker entry into the glamorous world of reality TV. 

Social media erupted with criticism following the announcement that Schapelle had joined the all-star cast, with some viewers even threatening to boycott the show altogether.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted representatives for Channel Seven for comment.

As well as rubbing potential viewers the wrong way, Schapelle’s casting has reportedly ruffled feathers with the other castmates.

Both Woman’s Day and New Idea have claimed that Schapelle was ‘iced out’ during production because many of the celebrity cast members didn’t believe she deserved to be there.

‘Some of the more high-profile celebs were fuming,’ an inside source told Woman’s Day, claiming many of the stars didn’t want to ‘associate with her’.

It has also been alleged that Sydney PR queen Roxy Jacenko was particularly unhappy the former Bali inmate was taking part.

‘When [Roxy] learnt Schapelle was going on the series, she was not impressed,’ New Idea has claimed.

Their mystery source added: ‘Roxy wanted to be the alpha female, but Schapelle immediately stole her thunder.’

Schapelle became a household name after she was arrested in October 2004 at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport with 4.1kg of marijuana wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag.

She was later sentenced to 20 years in prison, but after a series of sentence reductions was released on parole in February 2014 after nine years behind bars.

In May 2017, she was deported back to Australia amid a media frenzy. 

The other recruits officially announced for the program so far include ex-Bachelor Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins, 32; radio host and comedian Merrick Watts, 46; and former Ironwoman-turned-WAG Candice Warner.

SAS Australia is a remake of the hit British TV show SAS: Who Dares Wins and will put stars through their paces as they attempt to pass the selection process to join the Australian Army’s elite Special Air Service.

Filming for SAS Australia begun earlier this year in Queenstown, New Zealand, however, it will now resume in New South Wales, due to strict international travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

SAS Australia premieres this October on Channel Seven.