SAS: Who Dares Wins

2015 British reality television series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SAS: Who Dares Wins is a reality quasi-military training television programme broadcast by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom since 19 October 2015. It features civilians, and later celebrities, attempting to complete a modified version of SAS training.[1] The financial success of the celebrity series led Channel 4 to drop the original civilian series after its 2023 season.

GenreReality television
StarringAnt Middleton
Jason Fox
Matthew Ollerton
Billy Billingham
Jay Morton
Colin Maclachlan
Melvyn Downes
Anthony Stazicker
Rudy Reyes
Remi Adeleke
Chris Oliver
Narrated byShaun Dooley
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Quick facts Genre, Starring ...
SAS: Who Dares Wins
GenreReality television
StarringAnt Middleton
Jason Fox
Matthew Ollerton
Billy Billingham
Jay Morton
Colin Maclachlan
Melvyn Downes
Anthony Stazicker
Rudy Reyes
Remi Adeleke
Chris Oliver
Narrated byShaun Dooley
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series8 (regular)
8 (celebrity)
No. of episodes45 (regular)
56 (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
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Format

The show pits contestants against harsh environments all around the world, in a shortened training course designed to simulate a condensed version of the actual United Kingdom Special Forces selection course.[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 realistic training exercises. Each series ends with a simulated experience of being captured and interrogated, which is overseen by an anonymous former senior chief intelligence officer referred to as "the Umpire".[3]

Unlike many reality competition series, there are no formal elimination points. Instead, each contestants is given a numbered armband, which they can hand in to the DS to 'voluntarily withdraw' (VW) themselves if they feel they cannot continue. They can also be culled by the DS or be medically withdrawn.[2]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 women would now be able to serve in all areas of the UK military, including the Special Forces.[4]

A celebrity version aired for the first time in 2019 in aid of Stand Up to Cancer. Chief instructor Ant Middleton said of the concept, ‘Celebrities go through their lives showing the public a front and face they want them to see but this process stripped all that away.’[5]

After the eighth series of the civilian version concluded in 2023, the civilian version was shelved indefinitely to prioritise the celebrity version, which Channel 4 deemed a 'huge success'.[6]

Cast

The original Chief Instructor was Ant Middleton, an ex-United Kingdom Special Forces operator who served in the Special Boat Service.[7] The other Directing Staff consisted of Jason 'Foxy' Fox, a former SBS operator;[8] Mark 'Billy' Billingham, an ex-SAS Sergeant Major;[9] and Matthew 'Ollie' Ollerton.[10]

In 2021, Middleton was dismissed from the show over his 'personal conduct'. It was speculated that this was linked to Middleton's controversial tweets about the Black Lives Matter movement. Middleton subsequently claimed 'the woke patrol have kicked in to the point where we can't say anything, we can't be ourselves'.[11][12]

In October 2021, former United States Recon Marine Rudy Reyes was announced as the series's new Chief Instructor.[13] In 2023, the Directing Staff were joined by Chris Oliver, a former Royal Marine Mountain Leader and ex-Special Boat Service operator.[14]

Other DS have included Melvyn Downes in 2021, who served in the SAS for 12 years and was the first DS member of colour,[15] and Veteran Navy SEAL Senior Chief Remi Adeleke in 2022.[16][17]

More information Name, Position ...
Name Position Civilian series Celebrity series
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) 6 (2024) 7 (2025)
Jason "Foxy" Fox Directing Staff (1–) Main Main
Mark "Billy" 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 "Ollie" 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
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Regular series

More information Series, Start date ...
Series overview
SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodesLocationWinners
119 October 201516 November 20155WalesFreddie Iron and Ryan Roddy[18]
217 October 201614 November 20165EcuadorMoses Adeyemi[18][19]
37 January 20184 February 20185MoroccoJonathan Davis and Matt Sallis[18]
46 January 201910 February 20196ChileMark Peart, Louise McCullough and Milo Mackin[18]
55 January 20209 February 20206ScotlandJames Priestley and Chris O[18][20][21]
69 May 202114 June 20216ScotlandConnor Smyth and Kieran Lang[22]
710 April 202215 May 20226JordanShylla Duhaney and Paige Zima[23]
823 January 202321 February 20236VietnamGrant, Hilary and Joshua[24]
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Celebrity series

More information Series, Start date ...
Series overview
SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodesLocationWinners
17 April 20195 May 20195ChileWayne Bridge
220 April 202025 May 20206ScotlandLauren Steadman and DJ Locksmith
329 August 20213 October 20216ScotlandAlexandra Burke, Aled Davies and Wes Nelson
44 September 202216 October 20227JordanCalum Best, Ferne McCann, AJ Pritchard and Maisie Smith
526 September 20235 November 20237VietnamGareth Gates
622 September 202414 October 20248New ZealandGeorgia Harrison and Lani Daniels
73 August 202525 August 20258WalesTroy Deeney, Michaella McCollum and Lucy Spraggan
84 January 202626 January 20268MoroccoEmily Seebohm, Dani Dyer and Gabby Allen
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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.[7] Among the celebrity recruits were Victoria Pendleton,[25] Ben Foden, Heather Fisher, AJ Odudu, Jeff Brazier, Wayne Bridge, Sam Thompson, Andrea McLean, Jeremy Irvine, Dev, Louise Mensch and Camilla Thurlow (Love Island).[26] Unlike previous series, this celebrity version was filmed in the Andes Mountains in Chile.[7]

More information Recruit, Celebrity ...
Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number)
8 Wayne Bridge Former Premier League footballer Passed (5)
11 AJ Odudu Television presenter Culled (5)
3 Jeff Brazier Television presenter Culled (5)
5 Victoria Pendleton Former Olympic track cyclist Culled (5)
12 Sam Thompson Television & radio personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (5)
9 Ben Foden England rugby union player Voluntarily Withdrawn (5)
10 Heather Fisher Rugby union and rugby sevens player Culled (5)
6 Jeremy Irvine Actor Voluntarily Withdrawn (5)
2 Dev BBC Radio 1 presenter Voluntarily Withdrawn (4)
7 Camilla Thurlow Love Island finalist & humanitarian worker Voluntarily Withdrawn (4)
4 Andrea McLean Former Loose Women panellist Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
1 Louise Mensch Blogger, novelist & former Conservative MP Voluntarily Withdrawn (1)
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Series 2 (2020)

A second celebrity series began airing on Monday 20 April 2020.[27] 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. This series was filmed on the island of Raasay in Scotland.[28]

More information Recruit, Celebrity ...
Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number)
6 Locksmith DJ of Rudimental Passed (6)
7 Lauren Steadman Paralympic athlete Passed (6)
10 Helen Skelton Television presenter Culled (6)
8 Nikki Sanderson Actress Culled (6)
1 Joey Essex Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member Voluntarily Withdrawn (6)
11 Tony Bellew Former professional boxer Culled (6)
2 Brendan Cole Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Culled (4)
12 Yasmin Evans Radio & television presenter Culled (3)
4 John Fashanu Former England footballer & television presenter Culled (3)
9 Jack Maynard YouTube personality & DJ Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
5 Anthea Turner Television presenter Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
3 Katie Price Model, media & TV personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
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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. The series was filmed on the island of Raasay in Scotland.[29]

More information Recruit, Celebrity ...
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)
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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[30] and Fatima Whitbread; she was 60 years old when the series was filmed and is the show's oldest recruit.[31][32] The series was set in Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan and filmed in October 2021; the former set of French game show The Desert Forges was used as the base.[citation needed]

More information Recruit, Celebrity ...
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)
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Series 5 (2023)

The line-up for the fifth series was announced on 14 September 2023. The series was set in Thung Ui, Northern Vietnam[33] and 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.[citation needed]

More information Recruit, Celebrity ...
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)
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Series 6 (2024)

An eight-part sixth series began airing in September 2024; the filming took place in New Zealand.[6][34] 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 fourth series.[35]

More information Recruit, Celebrity ...
Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number)
10 Georgia Harrison Television personality Passed (8)
9 Lani Daniels New Zealand Professional boxer Passed (8)
3 Bianca Gascoigne Model & television personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (8)
8 Anthony Ogogo Olympic boxer & Professional Wrestler Culled (8)
7 Ovie Soko Love Island finalist & basketball player Voluntarily Withdrawn (7)
15 Bobby Norris Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member Medically Withdrawn (7)
12 Cherry Healey Television presenter Voluntarily Withdrawn (7)
5 Pete Wicks Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member Voluntarily Withdrawn (6)
14 Shazia Mirza Stand-up comedian & actress Culled (5)
2 Rachel Johnson Journalist & television presenter Voluntarily Withdrawn (4)
1 Ellie Downie Olympic artistic gymnast Voluntarily Withdrawn (4)
11 Chris Robshaw Former England rugby player Medically Withdrawn (3)
6 Tez Ilyas Stand-up comedian Culled (3)
4 Marnie Simpson Geordie Shore cast member Voluntarily Withdrawn (3)
13 John Barrowman Actor & singer Voluntarily Withdrawn (1)
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Series 7 (2025)

In June 2024, it was reported that filming of the seventh series would take place that summer in Wales.[36] The series was filmed on the island of Anglesey and began airing on 3 August 2025.[37][38]

More information Recruit, Celebrity ...
Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number)
10 Troy Deeney Former professional footballer Passed (8)
3 Michaella McCollum Convicted drug smuggler Passed (8)
4 Lucy Spraggan Singer-songwriter Passed (8)
1 Bimini Bon-Boulash Drag queen Culled (8)
8 Adam Collard Love Island contestant Voluntarily Withdrawn (8)
11 Conor Benn Professional boxer Medically Withdrawn (6)
13 Rebecca Loos Former glamour model and media personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (5)
9 Lady Leshurr Rapper & singer Voluntarily Withdrawn (5)
6 Harry Clark The Traitors winner Culled (4)
2 Adebayo "The Beast" Akinfenwa Former professional footballer Voluntarily Withdrawn (4)
5 Tasha Ghouri Love Island contestant Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
12 Chloe Burrows Love Island contestant Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
14 Louie Spence Dancer & choreographer Voluntarily Withdrawn (1)
7 Hannah Spearritt Singer and actress Voluntarily Withdrawn (1)
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Series 8 (2026)

In December 2025, it was announced that the next series would see seven Australian celebrities and seven UK celebrities go against each other in Morocco and would begin airing in January 2026.[39][40]

More information Recruit, Celebrity ...
Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode Number)
10 Australia Emily Seebohm Retired Olympic swimmer Passed (8)
4 United Kingdom Dani Dyer Reality TV star Passed (8)
5 United Kingdom Gabby Allen Love Island contestant Passed (8)
14 Australia Mack Horton Retired Olympic swimmer Voluntarily Withdrawn (8)
7 United Kingdom Ben Cohen Retired rugby player Voluntarily Withdrawn (8)
2 United Kingdom Toby Olubi Gladiators star, Phantom Culled (5)
6 United Kingdom Graeme Swann Retired cricketer Medically Withdrawn (5)
12 Australia Ryan Moloney Neighbours actor Voluntarily Withdrawn (5)
9 Australia Brad Hodge Retired cricketer Voluntarily Withdrawn (4)
1 United Kingdom Cole Anderson-James YouTuber Voluntarily Withdrawn (4)
11 Australia Axle Whitehead Musician Medically Withdrawn (4)
3 United Kingdom Jack Joseph Social media personality Voluntarily Withdrawn (4)
13 Australia Natalie Bassingthwaighte Actress and singer Voluntarily Withdrawn (3)
8 Australia Jessika Power Reality TV star Voluntarily Withdrawn (2)
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Series 9 (2027)

In May 2026, the cast for the upcoming ninth series was revealed with the show returning to its original format.[41] Filmed in Malaysia, it is expected to be aired in early 2027.[42]

International versions

Banijay holds the international rights to the show, and a total of six international adaptions have currently been produced around the globe; amongst the first ones were Australia, Denmark and Sweden.[43]

An Australian version of the show is currently being produced for Seven Network as SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins. Its first season was Australia's most watched new show of the year. It aired for four series, before being cancelled in 2024.[44] The Swedish version, Elitstyrkans hemligheter (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.[45]

The Dutch version, Special Forces VIPS: Wie durft wint (English: Special Forces VIP: Who dares wins), premiered on 19 December 2021 on RTL's streaming platform Videoland.[46] 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.[47]

An American version, Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, premiered on 4 January 2023 on Fox.[48][49] The Belgium version, titled Special Forces: Wie Durft Wint (English: Special Forces: Who Dares Wins), premiered in summer 2023 on VTM network.[50]

Legend:   Currently airing     Upcoming version/season     No longer airing     Current status unknown

More information Country, Title ...
Country Title Narrated by Current Directing Staff Network First aired
Australia SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins Gerard Dunning Ant Middleton
Matthew "Ollie" Ollerton
Anthony "Staz" Stazicker
Jay Morton
Seven Network 19 October 2020
Belgium
( Flanders)
Special Forces: Wie Durft Wint
(Special Forces: Who Dares Wins)
Unknown Unknown VTM 1 May 2023
Netherlands Special Forces VIPS: Wie durft wint
(Special Forces VIP: Who Dares Wins)
Gijs Scholten van Asschat Erik Wegewijs
Bas Kremer
Mitchell Ossenbaar
Nikki Koppedraaijer
Videoland 19 December 2021
Denmark Korpset – Gjort af det rette stof
(The Corps – Made of the right stuff)
N/a Thomas Rathsack
Erik B. Jørgensen
Rune Krogh Danielsen
Rune Viborg
TV2 4 January 2017
Finland Erikoisjoukot
(Special Forces)
Mikko Leskelä Janne „Janezkyy" Lehtonen
Jan Knutti
Matias Petäistö
Robin Hendry
Nelonen 2 January 2023
Hungary A Kiképzés
(The Training)
Stohl András Oravecz Kristóf
Molnár Attila
Farkas András
Nagy Ádám
TV2 2025
Poland Siły specjalne Polska
(Special Forces Poland)
Unknown Wojciech „Zachar" Zacharków
Marek „Włóczykij" Stan
Piotr „Gniady" Hajkowski
Piotr „Soyers" Soyka[51]
Polsat 3 September 2024[52]
Sweden Elitstyrkans hemligheter
(The Secrets of Elite Forces)
Stefan Sauk Jesper Berlin
Anders Eriksson
Johan Reispass
Petra Malm
TV4 24 January 2021
United Kingdom SAS: Who Dares Wins
(Flagship/Original)
Shaun Dooley Mark "Billy" Billingham
Jason "Foxy" Fox
Rudy Reyes
Chris Oliver
Channel 4 19 October 2015
United States Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Rudy Reyes
Jason "Foxy" Fox
Mark "Billy" Billingham
Jovon "Q" Quarles
Fox 4 January 2023
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References

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