Former Love Island winner Dani Dyer has described her stint on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins as one of the most gruelling ordeals she has ever faced. The 29-year-old TV personality is set to appear on the new series of the Channel 4 show, which begins airing on Sunday at 9pm.
A Brutal Test of Strength and Will
In a candid Instagram video shared ahead of the premiere, Dyer confessed to feeling both excited and terrified for viewers to witness her journey. "This is one show I’ve been absolutely really excited for you all to see, but also petrified because it was one of the hardest experiences of my entire life," she stated. The series, filmed in South Africa, sees celebrities subjected to extreme military-style training by former Special Forces personnel.
Her challenges began immediately, with the first episode featuring a brutal boxing match. Dyer went head-to-head with Married At First Sight Australia star Jessika Power. Despite wearing protective headgear, Dyer was left with a bloody nose after being punched squarely in the face, with Power declared the winner by chief instructor Mark 'Billy' Billingham.
Training and Support from Family
Prior to entering the Celebrity SAS compound, Dyer revealed she took advice from her husband, West Ham United footballer Jarrod Bowen. "Jarrod told me to up my training before I went in," she told The Sun. This involved unconventional outdoor sessions, including running up and down potato fields with her father, EastEnders actor Danny Dyer.
Despite this preparation, both her husband and father thought she was "nuts" for signing up. She joked about her dad's approach to fitness, noting, "When he does Soccer Aid, he has a fag just before he goes on the pitch." However, she said they were ultimately very proud of her efforts.
Overcoming Insecurities and Finding Strength
Dyer, who is a mother to twins, admitted the experience was "brutal" and that participants were never able to switch off, even in their dormitories. A significant part of the process involved intense interrogation from the Directing Staff (DS), which she said ultimately had a positive impact on her.
"They wanted to know what my weaknesses were and make me deal with them," she explained. This helped her cope with public criticism and a lifelong insecurity about being liked. "I stick up for myself a bit more now... the Directing Staff tell you that the people in your life are the ones that matter," she reflected.
Despite the immense difficulty, which she ranked as harder than she ever anticipated, Dyer expressed a desire to do it all again. "I'd love to do it again and be a lot more headstrong, and a lot more...not a wimp," she said. The experience taught her she is "a lot stronger" than she previously believed.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins also features other famous faces including singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Neighbours star Ryan Moloney, rugby's Ben Cohen, cricketer Graeme Swann, and fellow Love Island alum Gabby Allen. The series airs on Channel 4.
