Former Love Island winner Dani Dyer has described her time on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins as one of the most difficult experiences she has ever endured. The 29-year-old reality star is set to appear on the new series of the Channel 4 show, which begins airing on Sunday at 9pm.
A 'Petrifying' Yet Exciting Challenge
In a candid video shared on her Instagram Stories ahead of the premiere, Dyer expressed a mix of excitement and fear. "SAS is obviously on tonight at nine o'clock," she said. "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."
The star joins a line-up of celebrities including singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Neighbours actor Ryan Moloney, and rugby World Cup winner Ben Cohen. Despite the intense preparation advised by her husband, footballer Jarrod Bowen, Dyer found the reality of the military-style competition overwhelming.
Blood, Sweat, and Fears: Inside the Brutal Filming
The first episode immediately thrusts recruits into a brutal boxing match. Dyer was paired with Married At First Sight Australia star Jessika Power, a confrontation that left Dyer with a bloody nose despite protective headgear. Chief instructor Mark 'Billy' Billingham declared Power the winner after she landed a punch square on Dyer's face.
Dyer revealed the mental strain was as severe as the physical. "You just never switch off, whether you’re back in your dorms or out on a challenge," she told The Mirror. "You’re constantly second-guessing and never knowing what’s next. It was brutal."
Her family, including her father, EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, thought she was "nuts" for signing up. However, training in potato fields with her dad on her husband's advice gave her a small taste of the "nitty-gritty" to come.
Lasting Lessons from the SAS Directing Staff
Despite the ordeal, Dyer claims she would willingly do it all again, hoping to return "a lot more headstrong". She credits the show's intimidating Directing Staff with teaching her valuable life lessons. The intense interrogation sessions, in particular, helped her tackle a lifelong insecurity about being liked.
"They wanted to know what my weaknesses were and make me deal with them," Dyer explained. "With the job that I do, it comes with a lot of s**t thrown at you and people saying you’re talentless... I stick up for myself a bit more now."
She concluded that the experience taught her she is "a lot stronger" than she thought and to focus on the opinions of those who truly matter in her life. Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins airs on Channel 4 at 9pm on Sunday.
