SAS: Who Dares Wins
GenreReality television
StarringAnt Middleton (2015–21)
Jason Fox (2015–)
Matthew Ollerton (2015–20)
Mark Billingham (2016–)
Jay Morton (2020)
Colin Maclachlan (2015)
Melvyn Downes (2021)
Anthony Stazicker (2021)
Rudy Reyes (2022–)
Remi Adeleke (2022)
Chris Oliver (2023–)
Narrated byShaun Dooley
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series8 (regular)
5 (celebrity)
No. of episodes45 (regular)
31 (celebrity)
Production
ProducersPhil Turner
Freddie Foss-Smith
EditorJoss Maines
Running time60 minutes
Production companyMinnow Films
Original release
NetworkChannel 4
Release19 October 2015 (2015-10-19) –
21 February 2023 (2023-02-21)
Release7 April 2019 (2019-04-07) –
present

SAS: Who Dares Wins is a reality quasi-military training television programme broadcast by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom since 19 October 2015.[1] There have been eight main series and five celebrity spin-off series.[1]

Format

The show pits contestants against harsh environments all around the world in a shortened two-week long training course that is designed to replicate a number of elements of the actual United Kingdom Special Forces selection course; a notoriously difficult programme that has been known to claim the lives of those who take it on, although the training has been modified to prevent fatalities.[2] The show's Directing Staff take the recruits through hostile and unforgiving warfare environments, while testing their mental and physical ability through a series of tests. Unlike many reality competition series, there are no formal elimination points; instead, contestants may be culled by the DS, voluntarily withdraw, or be medically withdrawn at any point prior to completion.[2]

History

The fourth series which aired in early 2019 allowed female recruits to take part for the first time, in line with the Ministry of Defence's announcement that Special Forces selection would be open to women.[3] The fifth series proper aired in January and February 2020.[4]

Cast

The original Chief Instructor was Ant Middleton, who is an ex-United Kingdom Special Forces operator serving in the Special Boat Service.[5] He was dismissed from the show by Channel 4 in 2021 over his 'personal conduct'.[6] In October 2021, former United States Recon Marine Rudy Reyes was announced as the series's new Chief Instructor.[7] The other Directing Staff (DS) instructors are: Jason 'Foxy' Fox, a former SBS operator;[8] Mark 'Billy' Billingham, an ex-SAS Sergeant Major;[9] and veteran Navy SEAL Senior Chief Remi Adeleke - who left in 2022, after appearing in that year's civilian and celebrity series.[10][11]

Series 8 saw the contestants tested in the jungle of Thung Ui, north Vietnam, and Mark 'Billy' Billingham as the Chief Instructor because of his extensive jungle warfare training. Joining the Directing Staff is Chris Oliver, a former Royal Marine Mountain Leader and ex-Special Boat Service operator.[12]

Name Position Civilian Celebrity
1 (2015) 2 (2016) 3 (2018) 4 (2019) 5 (2020) 6 (2021) 7 (2022) 8 (2023) 1 (2019) 2 (2020) 3 (2021) 4 (2022) 5 (2023)
Jason Fox Directing Staff (1-) Main Main
Mark Billingham Directing Staff (2–7)
Chief Instructor (8–) 		Main Main
Remi Adeleke Directing Staff (7) Main Main
Rudy Reyes Chief Instructor (7)
Directing Staff (8–) 		Main Main
Ant Middleton Chief Instructor (1-6) Main Main
Matthew Ollerton Directing Staff (1-5) Main Main
Colin Maclachlan Directing Staff (1) Main
Jay Morton Directing Staff Guest Main
Melvyn Downes Directing Staff (6) Main Main
Anthony Stazicker Directing Staff Guest Main
Chris Oliver Directing Staff (8-) Main Main

Regular series

The original series, featuring regular civilians, was airing from 2015 to 2023. After the eighth series concluded, it was reported that the regular series was 'shelved' indefinitely, because Channel 4 wanted to focus more to the Celebrity version.[13]

Series Start date End date Episodes
1 19 October 2015 16 November 2015 5
2 17 October 2016 14 November 2016 5
3 7 January 2018 4 February 2018 5
4 6 January 2019 10 February 2019 6
5 5 January 2020 9 February 2020 6
6 9 May 2021 14 June 2021 6
7 10 April 2022 15 May 2022 6
8 23 January 2023 21 February 2023 6

Winners

Series Winners
1 Freddie Iron and Ryan Roddy[14]
2 Moses Adeyemi[14][15]
3 Jonathan Davis and Matt Sallis[14]
4 Mark Peart, Louise McCullough and Milo Mackin[14]
5 James Priestley and Chris O[14][16][17]
6 Connor Smyth and Kieran Lang
7 Shylla Duhaney and Paige Zima[18]
8 Grant, Hilary and Joshua[19]

Celebrity series

Series Start date End date Episodes
1 7 April 2019 5 May 2019 5
2 20 April 2020 25 May 2020 6
3 29 August 2021 3 October 2021 6
4 4 September 2022 16 October 2022 7
5 26 September 2023 5 November 2023 7
6 2024 2024 8

Winners

Series Winners
1 Wayne Bridge
2 Lauren Steadman and DJ Locksmith
3 Alexandra Burke, Aled Davies and Wes Nelson
4 Calum Best, Ferne McCann, AJ Pritchard and Maisie Smith
5 Gareth Gates

Series 1 (2019)

In April 2019, a special series in which all of the recruits were celebrities was aired as Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, for Stand Up to Cancer UK.[5] Among the celebrity recruits were Victoria Pendleton,[20] Ben Foden, Heather Fisher, AJ Odudu, Jeff Brazier, Wayne Bridge, Sam Thompson, Andrea McLean, Jeremy Irvine, Dev, Louise Mensch and Camilla Thurlow (Love Island).[21]

Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number)
1 Louise Mensch Blogger, novelist & former Conservative MP Voluntarily Withdrawn (1)
2 Dev BBC Radio 1 presenter Voluntarily Withdrawn (4)
3 Jeff Brazier Television presenter Culled (5)
4 Andrea McLean Former Loose Women panellist Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
5 Victoria Pendleton Former Olympic track cyclist Culled (5)
6 Jeremy Irvine Actor Voluntarily Withdrawn (5)
7 Camilla Thurlow Love Island finalist & humanitarian worker Voluntarily Withdrawn (3)
8 Wayne Bridge Former Premier League footballer Passed (5)
9 Ben Foden England rugby union player Voluntarily Withdrawn (5)
10 Heather Fisher Rugby union and rugby sevens player Culled (5)
11 AJ Odudu Television presenter Culled (5)
12 Sam Thompson Television & radio personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (5)

Series 2 (2020)

A second celebrity series began airing on Monday 20 April 2020.[22] Among the celebrity recruits were: Katie Price, Joey Essex, Anthea Turner, Helen Skelton, Brendan Cole, John Fashanu, Nikki Sanderson, Jack Maynard (YouTube star), Lauren Steadman, Locksmith (DJ of Rudimental), Tony Bellew and Yasmin Evans.

Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number)
1 Joey Essex Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member Voluntarily Withdrawn (6)
2 Brendan Cole Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Culled (4)
3 Katie Price Model, media & TV personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
4 John Fashanu Former England footballer & television presenter Culled (3)
5 Anthea Turner Television presenter Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
6 Locksmith DJ of Rudimental Passed (6)
7 Lauren Steadman Paralympic athlete Passed (6)
8 Nikki Sanderson Actress Culled (6)
9 Jack Maynard YouTube personality & DJ Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
10 Helen Skelton Television presenter Culled (6)
11 Tony Bellew Former professional boxer Culled (6)
12 Yasmin Evans Radio & television presenter Culled (4)

Series 3 (2021)

A third celebrity series began airing on 29 August 2021. Among the celebrity recruits were: Ulrika Jonsson, Kerry Katona, Alexandra Burke, Wes Nelson, James Cracknell, Shanaze Reade, Ore Oduba, Aled Davies, Vicky Pattison, Saira Khan, Kieron Dyer and Jake Quickenden.

Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number)
7 Alexandra Burke Singer, songwriter & actress Passed (6)
8 Aled Davies Paralympic athlete Passed (6)
9 Wes Nelson Singer & television personality Passed (6)
2 Ore Oduba Television & radio presenter Culled (6)
6 James Cracknell Former Olympic rower Voluntarily Withdrawn (6)
12 Kieron Dyer Former Premier League footballer Medically Withdrawn (4)
4 Jake Quickenden Singer & television personality Medically Withdrawn (3)
10 Shanaze Reade Former BMX racer Medically Withdrawn (3)
11 Vicky Pattison Television & media personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (3)
5 Saira Khan Television & media personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (3)
3 Ulrika Jonsson Television presenter Medically Withdrawn (2)
1 Kerry Katona Television & media personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)

Series 4 (2022)

A fourth series began airing on 4 September 2022. Among the celebrity recruits were: Calum Best, Maisie Smith, Jonathan Broom-Edwards, Ashley Cain, Dwain Chambers, Shannon Courtenay, Jennifer Ellison, Jade Jones, Amber Gill, AJ Pritchard, Curtis Pritchard, Ferne McCann, Pete Wicks[23] and Fatima Whitbread; she was 60 years old when the series was filmed and is the show's oldest recruit.[24][25] The series was set in Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan.

Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number)
8 AJ Pritchard Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Passed (7)
3 Calum Best Television personality Passed (7)
4 Ferne McCann Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member Passed (7)
12 Maisie Smith Former EastEnders actress Passed (7)
10 Jade Jones Olympic taekwondo athlete Culled (7)
14 Ashley Cain Footballer & television personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (7)
11 Shannon Courtenay Professional boxer Voluntarily Withdrawn (7)
6 Jonathan Broom-Edwards Paralympic athlete Voluntarily Withdrawn (6)
1 Jennifer Ellison Former Brookside actress Culled (5)
5 Fatima Whitbread Olympic javelin thrower Culled (5)
9 Curtis Pritchard Professional dancer & Love Island finalist Culled (4)
13 Dwain Chambers Olympic sprinter Culled (4)
2 Pete Wicks The Only Way Is Essex cast member Medically Withdrawn (2)
7 Amber Gill Love Island winner & author Culled (2)

Series 5 (2023)

The line-up for the fifth series was announced on 14 September 2023. The series was set in Vietnamese Jungle.[26] A fifth series began airing on 26 September 2023. Among the celebrity recruits were: Danielle Lloyd, Michelle Heaton, Amber Turner, Melinda Messenger, Gareth Gates, Matt Hancock, Gareth Thomas, James Argent, Jermaine Pennant, Siva Kaneswaran, Jon-Allan Butterworth, Teddy Soares, Montana Brown, Kirsty-Leigh Porter, Perri Shakes-Drayton and Zoe Lyons.

Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number)
7 Gareth Gates Singer-songwriter & actor Passed (7)
11 Danielle Lloyd Model & television personality Culled (7)
1 Matt Hancock Conservative Party politician Culled (7)
6 Perri Shakes-Drayton Olympic athlete Culled (7)
3 Teddy Soares Love Island contestant Culled (7)
10 Amber Turner The Only Way Is Essex cast member Voluntarily Withdrawn (6)
13 Zoe Lyons Comedian Culled (5)
2 James Argent Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member Voluntarily Withdrawn (5)
8 Montana Brown Love Island contestant Medically Withdrawn (5)
5 Jermaine Pennant Footballer Medically Withdrawn (4)
14 Siva Kaneswaran The Wanted singer Medically Withdrawn (4)
9 Jon-Allan Butterworth Paralympic cyclist Medically Withdrawn (4)
12 Gareth Thomas Former Wales rugby player Medically Withdrawn (3)
15 Melinda Messenger Model & television personality Culled (3)
4 Michelle Heaton Liberty X singer Culled (3)
16 Kirsty-Leigh Porter Hollyoaks actress Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)

Series 6 (2024)

Further, eighth-part sixth series is due to air in 2024. The filmings have reportedly took place in New Zealand.[13] The line-up for the series was reported in July 2023, with Pete Wicks set to feature as the first returning recruit following his medical evacuation from the previous series.[27]

Recruit Celebrity Known for Status
Anthony Ogogo Olympic boxer
Bianca Gascoigne Model & television personality
Cherry Healey Television presenter
Chris Robshaw Former England rugby player
Ellie Downie Olympic artistic gymnast
Georgia Harrison Television personality
John Barrowman Actor & singer
Marnie Simpson Former Geordie Shore cast member
Ovie Soko Love Island finalist & basketball player
Pete Wicks Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member
Rachel Johnson Journalist & television presenter
Shazia Mirza Stand-up comedian & actress
Tez Ilyas Stand-up comedian

International versions

Banijay holds the international rights to the show, and total of six international adaptions have currently been produced around the globe, amongst the first ones were Australia, Denmark and Sweden.[28]

An Australian version of the show is currently being produced for Seven Network as SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins. The Swedish version, Elitstyrkans hemligheter [sv] (English: Secrets of the Elite Force), is broadcast on TV4 and premiered on 24 January 2021. It won the reality show category award at Kristallen 2021.[29]

The Finnish version, Erikoisjoukot (English: Special Forces), premiered on 30 May 2022, on Nelonen and its streaming service Ruutu. It was also nominated at the Golden Venla awards in 2022.[30] An American version, Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, premiered on 4 January 2023 on Fox.[31][32] The Belgium version, titled Special Forces: Wie durft wint [nl] (English: Special Forces: Who Dares Wins), premiered in summer 2023 on VTM network.[33]

Legend:   Currently airing     No longer airing     Upcoming     Current status unknown

Country Title Narrated by Current Directing Staff Network
 Australia SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins Shaun Dooley Ant Middleton
Matthew Ollerton
Anthony Stazicker
Jay Morton
 Seven Network
 Belgium
( Flanders) 		Special Forces: Wie Durft Wint
(Special Forces: Who Dares Wins) 		? ? VTM
 Denmark Korpset
(The Corps) 		N/A Thomas Rathsack
Erik B. Jørgensen
Rune Krogh Danielsen
Rune Viborg
 TV2
 Finland Erikoisjoukot
(Special Forces) 		Mikko Leskelä Janne Lehtonen
Jan Knutti
Matias Petäistö
Robin Hendry 		Nelonen
 Sweden Elitstyrkans hemligheter
(The Secrets of Elite Forces) 		Stefan Sauk Jesper Berlin
Anders Eriksson
Johan Reispass
Petra Malm 		TV4
 United Kingdom SAS: Who Dares Wins
(Flagship/Original) 		Shaun Dooley Mark Billingham
Jason Fox
Rudy Reyes
Chris Oliver
 Channel 4
 United States Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Rudy Reyes
Jason Fox
Mark Billingham
Jovon Quarles
 Fox

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "SAS: Who Dares Wins". channel4.com. Channel 4. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Cooper, Edward (11 January 2019). "5 Reasons We Love SAS: Who Dares Wins". menshealth.com/uk/. Men's Health. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  3. ^ Sutton, Megan (1 January 2019). "SAS: Who Dares Wins is back this week – with a major difference". goodhousekeeping.com. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  4. ^ Daly, Helen (14 January 2020). "When is SAS: Who Dares Wins back on?". Radio Times. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b Bond, Kimberley. "What time is Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins on TV? Who stars in it? What can we expect?". radiotimes.com. Radio Times. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  6. ^ Jefferies, Mark; Gibbons, Lottie (1 March 2021). "Ant Middleton dropped by Channel 4 over his 'personal conduct'". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  7. ^ "SAS: Who Dares Wins introduces Ant Middleton replacement in first look at 2022 series". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Meet the instructors of SAS: Who Dares Wins 2022". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  9. ^ "SAS sniper and TV star Mark Billingham coming to Burnley". lancs.live. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  10. ^ Transformed. ASIN 0785219765.
  11. ^ "Celebrity SAS fans devastated as Remi Adeleke quits show: 'I won't be returning'". ok.co.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  12. ^ "SAS: Who Dares Wins Takes On Vietnamese Jungle In Toughest Series Yet". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  13. ^ a b https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/sas-who-dares-wins-cancelled-newsupdate/
  14. ^ a b c d e Mustafa, Filiz (11 February 2020). "SAS Who Dares Wins: Where are they now? Winners from 2015-2020!". Reality Titbit. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  15. ^ Westbrook, Caroline (20 January 2019). "What does the winner of SAS: Who Dares Wins get?". Metro. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  16. ^ Edwards, Eve (10 February 2020). "SAS Who Dares Wins 2020: James Priestley defies gangster past to complete The Sickener and Drownproofing". Reality Titbit. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Winner Of SAS: Who Dares Wins Speaks About His 'Gangster Family'". BBC. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  18. ^ "SAS: Who Dares Wins: Two recruits pass selection after first ever all female final four". metro.co.uk. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  19. ^ "SAS: Who Dares Wins recruits open up on feeling 'superhuman' after successfully finishing brutal course". metro.co.uk. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Victoria Pendleton says Celebrity SAS was 'like therapy'". femalefirst.co.uk. FemaleFirst. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  21. ^ Yaqoob, Janine; Begley, Katie (30 March 2019). "SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ben Foden says show helped him deal with his divorce". mirror.co.uk. Daily Mirror. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  22. ^ Gilbert, Gerrard (20 April 2020). "What's on TV tonight: Celebs put themselves through Ant Middleton's training on SAS: Who Dares Wins". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Who left Celebrity SAS 2022 last night?". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Fatima Whitbread branded Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 'legend' as she shares heartbreaking past". msn.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  25. ^ "Fatima Whitbread would walk around the Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins campsite completely nude". uk.style.yahoo.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  26. ^ "CELEBRITY SAS: WHO DARES WINS IS BACK AS SIXTEEN NEW CELEBRITIES FACE THEIR TOUGHEST CHALLENGE IN THE MOST BRUTAL VIETNAMESE JUNGLE". Channel 4. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  27. ^ "Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 2024 casts John Barrowman, Rachel Johnson and more". Radio Times. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  28. ^ https://www.banijayrights.com/programmes/8188
  29. ^ "TV4s Kristallenvinnare 2021". tv4.se (in Swedish). 27 August 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Tässä ovat Kultainen Venla 2022 -ehdokkaat". seiska.fi (in Finnish). 8 December 2022.
  31. ^ Whittock, Jesse (7 September 2022). "'Special Forces: The Ultimate Test': Anthony Scaramucci, Jamie Lynn Spears & Mel B Lined Up For Fox Endurance Series". Deadline Hollywood.
  32. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (27 October 2022). "Jamie Lynn Spears and 15 Other Celebs Try to Survive Special Forces Training in Trailer for New Fox Competition". TVLine.
  33. ^ Vereecken, Joke. "'Special Forces: Wie Durft Wint': Deze 11 bekende gezichten gaan de uitdaging aan". Newsmonkey (in Dutch).

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