Tuesday, May 13, 2025
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Disclosure
My Celebrity Life
  • Home
  • Celeb News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Life Style
  • Travel
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Celeb News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Life Style
  • Travel
No Result
View All Result
My Celebrity Life
No Result
View All Result

Who is in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 2023? From Matt Hancock to Gareth Gates and more

September 26, 2023
in Featured, TV
Reading Time: 15 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Matt Hancock (fifth left) with the other 15 latest celebrity recruits who will take part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The fifth series of the show sees sports stars, reality TV personalities, and even a politician taking part. (Picture: Pete Dadds/Channel 4)

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is back for 2023, with a brand-new cast of celebrities eager to compete.

The seven-part series, which kicks out today (Tuesday, September 26) and runs through Sunday evenings, will put new participants through some of the tough tasks that potential special forces applicants must go through during selection.

The cast includes 16 new celebrities, including former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, singer Gareth Gates, Olympian Perri Shakes-Drayton, and others, all overseen by an elite team of ex-Special Forces operators led by Chief Instructor Billy Billingham MBE QCB.

‘The SAS selection training follows the regimental ethos,’ Billy explained. Self-motivation and self-discipline are essential. The pursuit of perfection and the will to never give up.

‘Our recruits will be pushed emotionally, physically, and mentally beyond anything they have ever experienced.

‘The standards will never drop but most of the recruits will!!! No concessions, No excuses!! Only results …’

So, who is in the cast of the fifth series? Read on to find out.

Matt Hancock

Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock will undoubtedly be one of the more contentious guests on the show this year.

Despite being the Member of Parliament for West Suffolk, Mr Hancock is no stranger to reality television, having previously appeared on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, which cost him the Conservative party whip.

When asked about his experiences on both shows, he described both as “very different,” yet both “tested my resilience.”

‘There wasn’t a much to do in the Australian rainforest, so I was always looking forward to the duties,’ claimed the 43-year-old.

‘The opposite was true on SAS where your physical and mental resilience was tested to its limits almost every minute of every day. Sitting down was a luxury!

https://videos.metro.co.uk/video/met/2023/09/22/7377913615865852642/480x270_MP4_7377913615865852642.mp4

Gareth Gates 

Gareth Gates, 38, rose to popularity as the star of the 2002 series of talent programme Pop Idol, but he has mostly avoided appearing on reality shows thereafter, having had a traumatic encounter with the tabloid press early in his career.

Gates still has a stutter, which he has had from birth, and relies on breathing exercises to help him manage it. However, the singer-songwriter feels it has strengthened his mental fortitude.

When opting to participate in SAS: WDW, Gates stated that the programme “really intrigued” him since he “absolutely knew I’d be stretched both physically and mentally.”

Michelle Heaton

Michelle Heaton, another music business veteran, was initially presented to audiences as a member of the original line-up of the pop group Liberty X.

The 43-year-old Newcastle native wants to be on the show to help improve people’s perceptions about her.

Recently 18 months sober, Michelle Heaton has said, ‘I’m in competition with just myself. And it was the best challenge ever. So it was really only me. I had something to prove to, no one else.’

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michelle Heaton (@wonderwomanshel)

Danielle Lloyd

Danielle Lloyd, a former Miss GB and model, characterised her experience on the SAS course as “life changing,” stating, “It’s made me positive and ready to take on the world.”

Danielle stated that, while she wasn’t the fittest heading into the show, she thought her best asset going into the course was her mental fortitude.

‘Obviously, my weakness is my kids,’ admitted the former model. ‘So when I thought about them, I really struggled and missed them since I didn’t have the habit of being at home with them. It was really difficult… but I was psychologically strong enough to get through it.’

Siva Kaneswaran

Siva Kaneswaran, another SAS: WDW participant, was chosen in 2009 to join the lineup of the boyband The Wanted. Siva is a fitness enthusiast who visits the gym six times a week on average.

Siva has been open about how difficult he found the passing of bandmate Tom Parker from cancer in 2022 and recently said: ‘I saw the bravery that Tom had and what he showed in the band, and he really showed everyone what type of man he was and what he was made of.

‘He asked me the question and gave me the kind of inspiration to say, “what type of man am I? What type of person am I?” So that was one of the main reasons why I joined Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

‘I wanted to challenge myself and discover a new part of myself and try and be more brave.’

Embargoed to 2000 Monday September 25 Undated handout photo issued by Channel 4 of Siva Kaneswaran appearing on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. Issue date: Monday September 25, 2023.
Siva Kaneswaran is one of those appearing on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. (Picture: Channel 4)

Melinda Messenger 

Melinda Messenger, a TV host, confessed ahead of the show that she doesn’t go to the gym or work out other than walking her dog and going for a bike ride.

Also counting heights, water, and fire amongst her many fears, the Swindon-born 51-year-old revealed that she went on the show because ‘I love a challenge. I love to do or put myself in a situation where I have zero experience, where something’s completely new, I knew I was going to be totally out of my comfort zone.’

Montana Brown

Montana Brown appeared on Love Island‘s third series in 2017. Montana stated before the concert that she wanted to challenge herself and step out of her usual comfy routine.

‘It’s such an opportunity to push yourself mentally and physically to the edge’, Montana said.

‘I kind of just was really curious as to how I was going to react to being so far out my comfort zone, and also doing things that I really don’t want to do.’

https://videos.metro.co.uk/video/met/2023/09/14/644397286743950306/480x270_MP4_644397286743950306.mp4

Jermaine Pennant

Jermaine Pennant, one of numerous former sports stars on the show, had over 350 appearances for 15 football teams and scored 25 goals.

When asked about his strengths, Jermaine replied: ‘definitely helping others, I’m a team player.’

Jermaine described his experience on the show as being ‘like no other.’

‘If someone’s going to get an opportunity to do it, I would tell them – be prepared. It’s going to be tough, but it can be life-changing’, the former pro footballer said.

‘If you go in there with a mindset that you want to push yourself, you want to see where you are mentally, you want to see what you can handle and what you want to get from it, or you want to get past any trauma, any demons that you’ve been holding onto throughout your life, this will strip everything away from you. If you go with a good mindset, it can be life-changing.’

James ‘Arg’ Argent

James “Arg” Argent rose to prominence in the 2010 series of The Only Way Is Essex. Arg, on the other hand, confessed that he hasn’t seen any reality TV since leaving TOWIE.

One of the rare exceptions was seeing Joey Essex, Ferne McCann, and Jeff Brazier’s experiences on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, which he credits with turning him become a fan of the show.

Having struggled with addiction, Arg hoped his heart and determination would be his most significant assets on the show, saying: ‘I wasn’t doing it for the money. I was literally doing it because I really wanted to push myself and really achieve something and have another goal.’

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by James “Arg” Argent (@real_arg)

Gareth Thomas

Gareth Thomas is best known to sports fans as an ex-Welsh rugby international, but he has also built a name for himself as an HIV awareness activist.

Gareth was the first out homosexual professional rugby player when he came out in 2009, before admitting in 2019 that he was HIV positive.

The former rugby player thinks that his involvement on SAS: WDW would help to eliminate some of the stigma associated with HIV.

While he said he felt he didn’t have anything to prove, Gareth said: ‘I feel I had something to represent, because I think people have personal reasons to do it, the bigger picture was the purpose of understanding that I represent the community of people, whether it’d be with my HIV status, or whether it would be with my sexuality that have maybe stereotypically assumed not to go down this kind of pathway.’

Teddy Soares

Teddy Soares, one of numerous reality TV personalities to appear in the fifth series of the Channel 4 show, finished third with his then-girlfriend Faye in 2021.

Teddy felt like the timing of his appearance on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins ‘came at a perfect time as ‘mentally I was in a space where confidence was an issue, I was feeling lost, and vulnerable.’

The Love Island star said, ‘It’s something that I’m really proud of, to be able to prove to myself that I can go the distance, I can push myself, and I can do things that are far out of my comfort zone.’

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by SAS: Who Dares Wins (@sas_whodareswins)

Amber Turner

Amber Turner, the second cast member from The Only Way Is Essex to take part in SAS: WDW, has been a regular on TOWIE since 2017.

Amber wanted to discover more about herself by participating in the programme, and she admits, ‘I’ve always had a bit of a rush for adrenaline.’

‘Even though it might not look like it. I did love every minute of it,’ The TOWIE star said, ‘I would honestly do it again. If they’re doing a second one, I’ll happily join!’

Zoe Lyons

Zoe Lyons, 51, believes she is probably fitter today than she was at 30, and she wanted to see if she could pass selection despite being one of the older recruits.

Despite being gassed and crawling with heavy bags, Lyson characterised the event as “completely unforgettable,” adding, “I’m incredibly fortunate that I got to participate in the show.”

Celebrity SAS who dares wins recruits in helmets during challenge

All the recruits will face gruelling tasks. (Picture: Channel 4)

Kirsty-Leigh Porter

Kirsty-Leigh Porter of Hollyoaks stated she wanted to do the SAS training to “test who I am as a person.”

The 34-year-old from Manchester said that ‘I feel like as you get older, you get a bit lost as to who you are, who I used to be, who I am as a mother, as a partner, as my character Leela, you kind of get lost amongst it all so I wanted to break contact with every day life strip back mentally and physically and face me and see what my limits and boundaries are.’

With such lengthy filming days on Hollyoaks, Kirsty found it difficult to prepare for the show, so she undertook weight training and running in preparation for her role on SAS: WDW.

Perri Shakes-Drayton

Perri Shakes-Drayton, a GB Olympian who won gold with her team in the hurdles in 2012, is another sports figure taking part in SAS selection.

Perri was determined to make it through selection despite suffering multiple injuries throughout her career.

A fan of the show, Perri said, ‘When I got the call, without even knowing where I was going or anything, I thought, “I’m going to do it!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by PERRI EDWARDS (SHAKES-DRAYTON) (@itspsd)

Jon-Allan Butterworth MBE

Jon-Allan Butterworth, the final athlete to compete in SAS: Who Dares Wins, is no stranger to the military, having served as a senior aircraftman with the RAF in Iraq.

Jon-Allan became the first British Military athlete to win a gold medal in cycling after losing an arm in a rocket assault.

The cyclist he wanted to show the audience that a disability doesn’t need to hold you back, saying ‘my military career was cut short, I wanted to see whether I have what it takes to survive in a world the DS think is normal.

‘It was a once in a lifetime opportunity that showed me that I have the mental strength to go further than I ever thought. And after losing my military career when I did, it was a nice reminder to just be back in that world again, to feel that camaraderie with the others. In a very weird way I enjoyed every minute of it.’

Stream or watch Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins live on Channel 4: Tuesday, September 26, 9.30pm, continuing on Sundays at 9pm from October 1.

Tags: Channel 4EntertainmentMatt HancockSAS: Who Dares Winstv
ShareTweetPin
Previous Post

Rylan Clark devastated after presuming he’d be invited back on Big Brother

Next Post

Below Deck Mediterranean star quits in bombshell first episode

Related Posts

It’s your last chance to watch these major titles leaving Netflix this month
Celeb News

It’s your last chance to watch these major titles leaving Netflix this month

January 8, 2025
Spotify’s most-streamed song of 2024 revealed with whopping 1,781,000,000 plays
Featured

Spotify’s most-streamed song of 2024 revealed with whopping 1,781,000,000 plays

January 8, 2025
Mark Wright suffers heartbreaking family death weeks days after announcing baby news
Celeb News

Mark Wright suffers heartbreaking family death weeks days after announcing baby news

January 8, 2025
Abbey Clancy calls herself a ‘bit of a fridge’ in Peter Crouch sex confession
Celeb News

Abbey Clancy calls herself a ‘bit of a fridge’ in Peter Crouch sex confession

January 8, 2025
Pringles just unveiled a brand new American-inspired crisp flavour for 2025
Featured

Pringles just unveiled a brand new American-inspired crisp flavour for 2025

December 20, 2024
The art of everyday luxury: trends that blend style and functionality
Fashion

The art of everyday luxury: trends that blend style and functionality

December 10, 2024
Next Post
Below Deck Mediterranean star quits in bombshell first episode

Below Deck Mediterranean star quits in bombshell first episode

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our Affiliate Disclosure here.

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

Uncategorized

How to Find the Best Dentist in West Hollywood, CA: Your Ultimate Guide

by MCLTeam
March 19, 2025
0

Finding the best dentist in West Hollywood, CA, can feel like a daunting task, especially when you're looking for someone...

Read moreDetails
Uncategorized

The Hidden Dangers of Storm-Damaged Electrical Systems (And How to Fix Them)

by MCLTeam
March 4, 2025
0

Severe storms don’t just damage roofs and landscapes—they can wreak havoc on your home’s electrical system, creating dangerous hazards that...

Read moreDetails
It’s your last chance to watch these major titles leaving Netflix this month
Celeb News

It’s your last chance to watch these major titles leaving Netflix this month

by MCLTeam
January 8, 2025
0

Say bye bye to Mamma Mia, Bridget Jones's Diary and more.

Read moreDetails
Spotify’s most-streamed song of 2024 revealed with whopping 1,781,000,000 plays
Featured

Spotify’s most-streamed song of 2024 revealed with whopping 1,781,000,000 plays

by MCLTeam
January 8, 2025
0

It narrowly grabbed first place.

Read moreDetails

Tags

Alison Hammond Ant and Dec Ant McPartlin BBC Big Brother Casa Amor Channel 4 Davide Sanclimenti Disney Plus Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu Entertainment Film Gemma Owen Good Morning Britain Holly Willoughby House of the Dragon I'm A Celebrity Iain Stirling ITV Katie Price Lifestyle Loose Women Lorraine Kelly Love Island love island aftersun love island news love island uk love island villa Luca Bish mailchimp Married At First Sight Matt Hancock Maya Jama Netflix NL Phillip Schofield Shopping Showbiz Strictly Come Dancing Tasha Ghouri The Great British Bake Off This Morning tv US Showbiz news US TV news

Categories

  • Beauty
  • Celeb News
  • Fashion
  • Featured
  • Life Style
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Travel
  • TV
  • Uncategorized

Follow Us On:

  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Terms & conditions
  • Contact Us

© 2023 My Celebrity Life

This website uses information gathering tools including cookies, and other similar technology. We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information. Ad and Cookie Policy
Cookie SettingsAccept



Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Celeb News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Life Style
  • Travel

© 2023 My Celebrity Life

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Cookie Policy.