Mid life career switch from finance/fintech to the bar - is it madness?

Done a lot of lurking and reading up on this and seen a few similar topics, but thought it'd be worth asking. Also think it might be helpful for other people searching to see this post in years to come (I promise to come back and update it).

I'm in my mid 30s and considering taking the plunge, taking a sabbatical/leaving my job, coughing up the £10-£15k to do the GDL with a view to going into training for the bar (another £10-£15k!).

Which is scary stuff, but is it complete madness?

Rough CV for consideration

I have a decent 2:1 (been a long time, but think I was near a first, but it's SDE to bring that up) from an top tier (but not Oxbridge) uni.

However, ultimately that was almost 15 years ago, and more relevant to my current CV is that I've had decently successful career in comms/senior mgmt/investor relations in fintech/finance with plenty of exposure to complex contracts, magic-circle lawyers, disputes with the regulator, and high stakes negotiations.

I enjoy my work and I'm good at it, but I'd like a change, and as someone who enjoys a debate/a bit of conflict, is not shy of public speaking, and isn't afraid of hard work I think I'd enjoy working as a barrister. (I know my work has been closer to solicitors' work, but I'm also a recovering theatre kid and I'd love a professional outlet for that).

I'm aware I'd take a short term hit to earnings, if I'm any good, I do have one eye on this being a better earning long term career into my 40s and 50s.

Academics vs work experience?

All that said, ultimately I'd rather not lose £30k (plus lost earnings and living expenses) to fail at becoming a barrister.

I'm not particularly worried about the GDL/BTC (if anything I think they seem to be a bit lax on their entry requirements), but pupilages seem very competitive.

So, I'd appreciate if anyone's ever seen career switchers with a similar background succeed in securing pupilages and beyond.

All the materials I can read up on seem to be focused on students rather than mature career switchers, and more or less all barristers I can see seem to have 1st class degrees and masters!

I'm nervous as my academics are solid, but a) aren't impressive, b) it was a lifetime ago.

Like I said above, I think I've done a lot more interesting, difficult and relevant work since, but I've not seen anywhere on any of the "getting a pupilage" sites talk about work experience.