A FORMER Love Island contestant is among the new faces to join the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The Channel 4 reality show is back for its sixth series, which will see celebrities take part in SAS winter warfare training in the south islands of New Zealand.
Contestants can be eliminated by the directing staff or choose to withdraw themselves.
Those who are still present at the end are declared the winners.
Head Instructor Mark “Billy” Billingham oversees their progress, accompanied by Directing Staff (DS) Jason “Foxy” Fox, Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver.
Let’s take a look at who is taking on the challenge.
Pete Wicks
Reality star Pete, 35, is best known for appearing in The Only Way is Essex from 2015 to 2022.
He has also been announced as part of this year’s Strictly line-up.
Pete shared: “After being medically withdrawn in Jordan (series 4), I felt like I hadn’t given it my best, and that bothered me.
“So when I got an opportunity to go back, I jumped in! And I would do it again!”
He was forced to withdraw during his first appearance on the show after a stunt went wrong.
Bobby Norris
Bobby, 38, is a television personality who starred in TOWIE from 2012 to 2021.
He has also appeared on shows including Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Ghost Hunt.
Bobby shared: “I’ve got so many fears and phobias, and I’ve let them control my life for so long.
“I decided that if I could try and even tackle one of them, I’d be happy. This was a once in a lifetime experience…”
Georgia Harrison
Georgia, 29, is a reality television personality who previously appeared in TOWIE and Love Island.
She has also featured in shows such as The Challenge: War of the Worlds and Celebrity Ex on the Beach.
Georgia said: “It completely lived up to my expectation. It was like something off a movie…it was just brilliant…and as much as there were times that I had to overcome the challenges I had to overcome, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Georgia, who was previously in an SAS group with Pete, said he was like a “creepy uncle”.
She added: “He had a strong role in the group because he’d done it before and we probably burdened him a little bit because he’d experienced SAS in the past and we’d always ask him to make a plan.”
John Barrowman
John, 57, is an actor who is well known for playing Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and Torchwood.
In 2018, he competed in I’m A Celebrity, finishing in third place overall.
John revealed: “I’m always somebody who’s up for a challenge, and I just really wanted to give it a whirl.”
That said, it may have proved to be too much for him, as he reportedly changed his mind just two hours in.
Speaking ahead of the show, fellow contestant Rachel Johnson said: “He did the first day and then he voluntarily withdrew in camp. When we were doing the tour of the accommodation.”
Marnie Simpson
Marnie, 32, is a reality television personality who has most notably appeared on Geordie Shore.
She has also featured on Celebrity Big Brother, Ex on the Beach and Geordie React, to name a few.
Ahead of the show, Marnie said: “I definitely didn’t comprehend how tough it would be…it was very raw and very real!”
The star had undergone a breast uplift just weeks before flying out to New Zealand for the quasi-military training show and still had post operative dressings on.
Marnie admitted: “Mentally and physically I just wasn’t ready for it.”
Anthony Ogogo
Anthony, 35, is a professional wrestler and former professional boxer.
He won a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics.
Anthony said: “Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is one of the best shows on telly. I wanted to push myself…and it was life changing.”
The Sun’s TV editor Rod McPhee reported that the former boxer had a meltdown on the side of a mountain, where he threatened to throw a crew member over the side.
Sources on the Channel 4 show, set in New Zealand, told The Sun at the time: “He’s a big bloke and because he’s a boxer, everyone was terrified.”
Cherry Healey
Cherry is a television presenter, known for featuring in self-titled lifestyle documentaries for the BBC.
She co-presented eight series of BBC Two‘s Inside the Factory, alongside Gregg Wallace.
Cherry said: “It’s impossible to prepare yourself mentally, physically, emotionally for this. It’s more than you could ever prepare for.
“It was everything. It was the most amazing, awful experience of my life.”
Speaking about the experience, she added: “Every single person got a role in the family tree.
“Pete [Wicks] was the naughty uncle that came and gave everyone cigarettes at the party.”
The documentary presenter reportedly broke up with her beau after the show.
She said: “Doing the show was like the ultimate reset for me. It was like, ‘this is who you are and how you want to be treated.”
Ovie Soko
Ovie, 33, is a British basketball player for the London Lions team.
In 2019, he appeared in the fifth series of Love Island, placing third.
Ovie revealed: “Oh it blew me away. You kind of see what to expect on TV, but you don’t really know until you get there.
“You don’t know how bad it is, the bad things that you have to do, you just don’t know the reality of it. But it was incredible. Absolutely incredible. I had one of the best experiences I think I’ve had in my
Bianca Gascoigne
Bianca, 37, is a glamour model and television personality.
In 2006, she won a series of ITV‘s original Love Island format.
Bianca revealed: “This was a chance for me to really show people what I’m made of… it was literally life changing.”
Gazza’s adopted daughter left her four-month-old daughter to take part in the show.
And because of the nature of the show she wasn’t able to have contact her with her for the most of the time she was away.
Despite this, he had no regrets, saying, “I’m still so glad I challenged myself.”
Shazia Mirza
Shazia is a comedian, actress and writer.
She has previously appeared on shows including Bear Grylls‘ The Island and Would I Lie To You.
Shazia revealed: “On Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins I learned that if I can do this, I can probably do anything…”
Ellie Downie
Ellie, 25, is a retired artistic gymnast who has represented Great Britain.
Among her accomplishments is becoming the first gymnast to win a major all-around title for Great Britain.
Ellie shared: “Everyone told me it would be difficult; the challenges are really hard and the DS are really strict. I thought it can’t be that bad, surely. It was! It exceeded my expectations…”
The Olympic athlete revealed that she took part in the show to honour her late brother.
Keen sportsman Josh died aged just 24 in 2001.
He suffered a sudden cardiac arrest whilst playing cricket at a ground in Liverpool.
Ellie explained: “He applied for the civilian [SAS] just before Covid but then when the pandemic hit it didn’t happen.
“I knew it was a show he really, really liked. So I wanted to do it because he wanted to do it himself.”
Tez Ilyas
Tez, 41, is a stand-up comedian known for his co-starring role as Arslan “Eight” Mughal in BBC Three‘s Man like Mobeen.
He has also presented the satirical comedy programme, The Tez O’Clock Show on Channel 4.
Tez revealed: “Being on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins surpassed all expectations.
“It was harder and more fun than I could have possibly imagined. It was uncomfortable. It was awful. It was brilliant..”
Rachel Johnson
Rachel, 59, is a journalist and host who frequently appears on political discussion panels.
She is also the sister of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Rachel said: “This experience was much more than I was expecting. I mean, given how ghastly reality television can be, this was top notch. Really top notch.”
She reportedly called former Health Secretary Matt Hancock to ask for tips, having never seen the show before.
That’s when he gave her his four words of advice on the show, saying: “It’s brutal, but amazing.”
Lani Daniels
Hailing from New Zealand, Lani, 25, is a professional boxer.
Among her achievements is holding the IBF female heavyweight title from May 2023 to December 2023.
Lani shared: “I think it exceeded my expectations.
“It’s been one of the best experiences I’ve done in my life. It’s something that I will forever be grateful for.”
Chris Robshaw
Chris, 38, is a former rugby union player who represented England internationally.
His playing career spanned until 2022.
Chris revealed: “I wanted to see how far I could push myself…and how far I could go…it was just absolutely amazing.”
Ahead of the new episodes, Chief Instructor Billy said: “As our course progresses, the standards expected will never falter.
“From the very first second, the recruits will be expected to give 100%.
“Anyone not doing so will be gone before they have time to make their excuses.
“Our time is invaluable – we will not waste it on anyone not worthy.”
While long-standing DS Foxy added: “For the celebrities who think they know what they’re in for and think they know what they’re going to get, their arrogance will be their undoing.
“Once these celebrities are dehooded and into the course, they are going to be slapped in the face with uncertainty. “
Series six of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins will air on Channel 4 every Sunday and Monday from September 22, at 9pm.
