Fourteen celebrities endured an extreme test of physical and mental fortitude on Channel 4's Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, pushing themselves to the absolute limit in a brutal resilience challenge. The tense finale on Monday night culminated in a groundbreaking outcome, with the first ever all-female line-up of finalists emerging victorious in the celebrity spin-off series.
Historic Victory for Female Contestants
Love Island stars Dani Dyer and Gabby Allen, alongside former Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm, were awarded their passes by the show's formidable directing staff. This marked a significant milestone, as no previous celebrity edition had seen an exclusively female trio reach the finish line. The episode began with the group whittled down to five recruits, including Ben Cohen and Mack Horton, who joined the women for the most arduous segment of the selection process—a condensed version of SAS training.
Gruelling Final Challenges and Interrogations
Throughout the series, participants faced harrowing tasks such as simulating a helicopter crash into water, surviving a war zone, and trekking through desert terrain. The final phase intensified as the remaining five were handed over to interrogators, subjected to sleep deprivation, intense questioning, and psychological pressure exercises like holding stress positions. Chief instructor Billy Billingham, along with directing staff Jason Fox, Rudy Reyes, and Chris Oliver, oversaw these trials, pushing the recruits to their breaking points.
During this ultimate test, both Ben Cohen, aged 47, and Mack Horton, aged 29, ultimately tapped out, leaving the three women to stand before the directing staff in the series' climactic moment. Billy Billingham, 60, delivered the final verdict, stating, 'Eight days ago you came from both sides of the world. Fourteen arrived. Three stand before us.' He emphasised, 'Just because you stand on the finish line doesn’t mean you’ve passed this course.' After a brief pause, he congratulated them, declaring, 'It’s a rare moment to say — congratulations to all three of you. You’ve passed this course.'
Emotional Reactions and Reflections from the Winners
Dani Dyer, 29, was the first to speak, praising her teammates Gabby Allen, 33, and Emily Seebohm, 33, with a heartfelt, 'Well done, girls.' Reflecting on her achievement, Dani shared, 'Every single moment was horrendous. But to hear that I’d passed — it’s the best feeling in the world. If I can do this, I can do anything. I definitely am a lot stronger than what I think I am. I can’t believe I’ve actually been able to do it. I’m really proud of myself.' She added, 'We are strong women. We go through so much as women, mentally and physically.'
Gabby Allen expressed her astonishment and pride, saying, 'I can’t believe that out of fourteen people, it’s us. Well, I can — because we’re boss b***hes.' She highlighted the significance of the moment, noting, 'Standing there with two women at the end meant everything to me. My whole brand is about empowering women from every walk of life. Men are strong, but women show time and time again that we can do just as much. We were lifting the same weights, trying just as hard.' Gabby also remarked on the unique bond formed, stating, 'I wouldn’t have wanted to be there at the end with anyone else. We built a bond you could never replicate.'
Emily Seebohm revealed her initial doubts, explaining, 'When we were un-bagged and it was just the three of us standing there, I thought we’d been picked out as the weak ones.' She praised her fellow winners, saying, 'I couldn’t have been prouder of the girls. We spent the whole time lifting each other up and reminding ourselves how strong we were.' Emily also shared a personal motivation, adding, 'Every time I struggled, I pictured my son in his dinosaur pyjamas. I could see him so clearly, and it gave me strength.'
Insights from the Directing Staff and Other Contestants
Directing staff member Jason Fox, known as Foxy, commented on the emotional impact of the finale, saying, 'I love it when people pass the course. Sometimes I have to hold back the odd tear. I’m honoured to be part of their journey.' He reflected on the broader significance, noting, 'When selection ends, you realise it’s character-building. It creates bonds that last.'
The episode also highlighted the struggles of other participants, such as England rugby legend Ben Cohen, who faced a particularly harsh interrogation. During this round, he was described as a 'sad old man' by the directing staff, which left him emotionally vulnerable. Ben, who is clinically deaf due to genetic hearing loss, admitted that the series triggered 'different mindsets' and tested his mental toughness, stating, 'The interrogation is probably one of my biggest question marks. It’s wearing you down and making you feel vulnerable.'
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins continues to captivate audiences with its raw depiction of resilience and determination, now available for streaming on Channel 4.
