EXCLUSIVE: X Factor alum Lucy Spraggan has a new passion in life - and it's a million miles away from her old lifestyle of clubbing and late-night boozing10:46, 07 Aug 2026There was a time when Lucy Spraggan's life revolved around gigs, airports and late nights in pubs and clubs – but things look a little different nowadays.‌Fresh from finding fame on The X Factor, the singer spent years touring the country, travelling the world and living out of a suitcase. These days, however, she's much happier swapping the bright lights for muddy fields.‌The 35-year-old has revealed that she's become obsessed with metal detecting, spending hours searching the countryside around her home for hidden treasures – and insists she's never been happier.‌Speaking at Dacia's City Escape in London, the star - who in 2020 revealed the results of a total lifestyle rehaul after quitting the booze and embarking on an intense fitness regime, told us how her idea of adventure has completely changed."I think social media plays a part in overcomplicating adventure for us," she said. "Some people hear 'adventure' and think 'extreme'. I hear adventure and hope it begins in a field and ends somewhere fun."‌Away from the stage, Spraggan says some of her favourite days are now spent exploring the grasslands close to home. One of her favourite metal detecting spots is a field beside her home, where the remains of a Roman fort lie beneath the ground."As a metal detectorist, some of my favourite exploring days have been in the field right next to my house," she said. "It's amazing how much more there is to discover about somewhere you think you already know."It's a far cry from the adventures that first inspired her love of travelling. At just 18, Spraggan packed a backpack, grabbed her guitar and spent three months travelling across America, performing wherever she could as she made her way through 32 states.‌The trip sparked a lifelong passion for exploring, but she says growing older has taught her that adventure doesn't have to involve hopping on a plane."I think nowadays there's a lot of pressure to have what others would deem to be a 'perfect time'," she said. "As with everything in life, if you wait for the perfect time you'll never go and that's a trap that a lot of people get stuck in, myself included."‌Instead, she has found herself drawn back to the simple things. When she's not recording or performing, she's often outdoors, whether that's metal detecting, kayaking or simply switching off from the pressures of everyday life."It is what I live for, truly," she said. "It's how I decompress and re-centre. When I come home from a busy tour, the first place I want to go is into nature or for a kayak on the river."The more time I am able to spend outside before a busy period, the more relaxed I feel. The industry is wild, but nature is wilder."‌Part of that escape involves leaving technology behind. "The phone stays at home – or at the very least in the bag – whenever it's time to switch off," she said."My most simple way to reconnect is to head to the woods, or the fields, with a book, take my shoes off and read whilst grounded."Despite her love of the outdoors, Spraggan insists adventure doesn't have to mean climbing mountains or spending thousands on bucket-list trips.‌She believes people can rediscover it much closer to home. "I'd encourage them to spend a little more mindful time outside, just a touch more, with intention and pay attention to how they feel afterwards," she said."Walking through the park on the way to work or listening to the birds in the trees and seeing what just a little bit of that does for the way their brain and body feels."Asked what one thing everyone should try this summer, she said: "Metal detecting! But I'm biased."‌Spraggan was speaking as she joined broadcaster Ben Fogle, explorer Monty Halls, polar adventurer Preet Chandi MBE, naturalist Jim Moir and endurance cyclist Sarah Ruggins at Dacia's City Escape event on London's South Bank.The free event celebrated the brand's 'Everyday Adventure' philosophy, encouraging people to embrace the outdoors through talks, activities and hands-on experiences, while also giving visitors their first chance to see the new Dacia Striker ahead of its UK launch.Lina Ribeiro, Brand Director for Dacia UK, said: "Adventure means something different to everyone, and Lucy's story perfectly captures what City Escape was all about.Article continues below"You don't have to travel across the world to find memorable experiences. Sometimes they're much closer than you think."Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.