The eighth season of Channel 4's gruelling reality series Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins has been plunged into disarray following a mass exodus of famous contestants. In a dramatic turn of events, five celebrities have withdrawn from the intense selection course, with several quitting voluntarily and one forced out for medical reasons.
Stars Crack Under Extreme Pressure
The latest episode, airing soon, sees a string of high-profile dropouts. Natalie Bassingthwaighte, the 50-year-old Neighbours star, was the first to break, surrendering under a torrent of abuse from chief instructor Billy Billingham. After he bellowed "Don't play the fainting s*** with me", a tearful Natalie conceded, "I just can't do it, I'm sorry."
She was swiftly followed by 25-year-old social media personality Jack Joseph, who threw in the towel after being ordered to scale 27 flights of stairs. He confessed he simply wasn't physically fit enough. His friend, 28-year-old content creator Cole Anderson-James, then quit moments later, admitting he lacked the mental fortitude required.
Medical Emergency and Previous Exit
Adding to the chaos, Axle Whitehead, the 45-year-old Home and Away actor, was compelled to leave the course after experiencing worrying numbness in his arm, a development that left him visibly emotional. This wave of departures comes hot on the heels of last week's exit by Married At First Sight's Jessika Power, 31.
A source close to the production revealed the scale of the collapse, stating "The celebrities were dropping like flies." Despite the turmoil, Love Island winner Dani Dyer, 29, managed to persevere through the punishing challenges.
Behind the Scenes: The Reality of Filming
The extreme conditions of the show were further highlighted by Dani Dyer in a recent interview. She explained the truth behind a viral moment where Olympic swimmer Mack, 29, was filmed wetting himself during a challenge. According to Dani, it wasn't out of fear but sheer necessity.
Appearing on This Morning, she told hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard that with no scheduled toilet breaks, contestants had to relieve themselves "anywhere" they could. "We were held with those hoods on, it must have been for about an hour... There's no toilet going, you are on - if you needed a wee, you were going anywhere," she revealed.
The series, led by ex-special forces operators Rudy Reyes, Jason 'Foxy' Fox, Billy Billingham, and Chris Oliver, continues to test its celebrity recruits to their absolute limits. Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is available to stream on Channel 4.
