Love Island star Gabby Allen suffered a humiliating start to her stint on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, failing the show's first gruelling challenge in a matter of seconds. The reality TV personality, 33, was left 'panicking' and visibly annoyed after being unable to complete an underwater evacuation drill during the premiere of the show's eighth series on Sunday, 4 January 2026.
Underwater Panic in Series Premiere
The thrilling Channel 4 programme returned with a new format, pitting seven British celebrities against seven Australian rivals in a brutal modified version of SAS selection. The first mission was an emergency evacuation drill, requiring one contestant from each team to be strapped into a mock aircraft fuselage and submerged underwater.
Gabby, representing Team UK, was paired with Australian Olympic swimming champion Mack Horton. The task demanded they hold their breath for 30 seconds after being submerged before receiving a signal to escape. However, the former Islander's attempt ended almost immediately as she began to panic just seconds into the ordeal.
The crew swiftly recognised her distress and rescued her, marking an instant 'fail' for Gabby as she could not meet the required breath-hold duration. Reflecting on the failure with clear frustration, Gabby said: "I weren't scared about the height, I weren't scared about the water. And then I f****** didn't take a big enough breath. What the f***?"
Dani Dyer Also Falls Short in Gruelling Test
Gabby was not the only Love Island alum to struggle. Her teammate, Dani Dyer, also failed to complete the same daunting underwater challenge. The 29-year-old daughter of actor Danny Dyer admitted afterwards: "Instantly, I failed."
Ahead of the broadcast, Dani had shared her nervous anticipation with followers on Instagram Stories, calling the experience "one of the hardest of my entire life." She expressed a desire to tackle it again, stating she would aim to be "a lot more headstrong, and a lot more...not a wimp."
Star-Studded Line-Up Faces SAS Ordeal
The British team for this international series features a mix of reality stars, athletes, and influencers. Alongside Gabby Allen and Dani Dyer, Team UK includes:
- Social media influencers Jack Joseph and Cole Anderson James
- Rugby World Cup winner Ben Cohen
- Gladiator star Toby Olubi
- Former England cricketer Graeme Swann
The dramatic premiere sets the tone for what promises to be a brutally testing series for all 14 celebrities involved. Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins continues nightly on Channel 4 at 9pm.
