The eighth series of the gruelling reality contest Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is set to premiere early next year on Channel 4, and this time it features a fierce international rivalry. For the first time, the show will pit a team of UK celebrities against a squad of Australian stars in the harsh environment of North Africa.
UK vs Australia: The Celebrity Recruits
Fourteen new recruits are preparing to face what is described as the 'most punishing challenge of their lives'. Leading Team UK are reality television star Dani Dyer, 28, former Love Island contestant and fitness influencer Gabby Allen, 33, social media personality Jack Joseph, 25, YouTuber Cole Anderson-James, 28, Rugby World Cup winner Ben Cohen, 46, Gladiators star Toby Olubi, 37, and former England cricketer Graeme Swann, 46.
Team Australia boasts an equally formidable line-up, including Married At First Sight alum Jessika Power, 33, Neighbours legend Ryan Moloney, 45, singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte, 50, former cricketer Brad Hodge, 50, Olympic swimmers Emily Seebohm, 33, and Mack Horton, 29, and Home and Away actor Axle Whitehead.
A Brutal Test of Mind and Body
The celebrities will be subjected to the merciless scrutiny of Chief Instructor Billy Billingham MBE and his directing staff (DS): Jason 'Foxy' Fox, Rudy Reyes, and Chris Oliver. Channel 4's press release warns that every mistake will be punished, every weakness exposed, and not everyone will possess the fortitude to reach the end of the eight one-hour episodes.
Several recruits have spoken about their motivations. Dani Dyer, recruit number four, admitted she is a huge fan of the show and wanted to test herself. 'I just hope that I will be able to stop listening to the voices in my head and just get to the end,' she said, acknowledging the mental battle will be her biggest hurdle.
Similarly, Jessika Power (recruit eight) stated she wanted to show a more vulnerable and determined side of herself, aiming to prove she's 'not a reality bi**h.' Ryan Moloney, famed for playing Toadfish on Neighbours, declared he wanted to 'grab this and tear the balls off it' as a huge personal challenge.
DS Stir Up a Centuries-Old Rivalry
The directing staff have emphasised that this series is about more than individual endurance. DS Foxy stated: 'This is more than just a course, it’s a centuries old rivalry and we are stirring it up on a new front!' Chief Instructor Billy Billingham added that national pride is on the line, questioning which team has the 'minerals' to rise from the ashes.
The production marks a return to large-scale international filming after budget constraints saw the previous series shot in Wales. A source revealed executives have 'blown the budget' to film in a location like Marrakech, ensuring a visually spectacular and demanding backdrop for the competition.
The new series follows the last run, which saw football manager Troy Deeney, former drug mule Michaella McCollum, and singer Lucy Spraggan successfully pass the course, while others including Bimini Bon-Boulash and Adam Collard fell short.
