UK vs Australia: Fourteen Celebrities Face the Ultimate SAS Test in North Africa

Decades of rivalry are set to be tested to the limit as fourteen British and Australian celebrities face the most punishing challenge of their lives when the latest series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins returns to Channel 4.  In the brutal heat of North Africa, these famous faces are embarking on a savage, condensed version of SAS selection that even they won’t be able to charm, spin, or tweet their way out of.  Airing across EIGHT one-hour episodes, this eighth series will be available to stream, and watch live, in January 2026.

The fourteen famous faces trading their glamorous and luxurious lifestyles for the harsh realities of Special Forces training—competing head-to-head as Team UK versus Team Australia to see which nation will triumph—are; TV Personalities, Dani Dyer (28 - British), Gabby Allen (33 - British) and Jessika Power (33 - Australian); social media personalities, Jack Joseph (25 - British) and Cole Anderson-James (28 - British); Neighbours Actors, Ryan Moloney (45 - Australian) and Natalie Bassingthwaite (50 - Australian); World Cup Winning Rugby Player, Ben Cohen (46 - British); Gladiator and Olympian, Toby Olubi (37 - British); International Cricketers, Graeme Swann (46 - British) and Brad Hodge (50 - Australian); Olympic Swimmers, Emily Seebohm (33 - Australian) and Mack Horton (29 - Australian); and Home & Away Actor and Musician, Axle Whitehead (44 - Australian).

Stripped of their identities, luxuries and excuses, the brutal physical and mental course, led by Chief Instructor, Billy Bilingham MBE and his team of Directing Staff - Foxy (Jason Fox), Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver – will strip everything away. The celebrities will have no entourage, agents, filters or social media followers to rescue them. Instead, they’ll face sweat, physical endurance, sand, tears and the truth they’ve been avoiding – all in the blistering North African heat. The DS don’t care how famous the recruits are, how many social media followers they have or what they have done before this. As soon as they enter the selection process, their celebrity status and luxuries are stripped away and there will be no room for mistakes

The UK and Aussie recruits are put under extreme pressure as every mistake is punished, every crack exploited, every weakness dragged into the open. Not everyone will have what it takes to make it to the end as bonds snap, egos shatter, and recruits are pushed so far past their limits they forget they ever had any. 

But when the dust settles, one question remains: will any of these celebrities make it to the end of this physically demanding and psychologically gruelling course and impress the DS enough to pass the course?And, more importantly, will the UK or Australia emerge victorious when the rivalry finally reaches its breaking point?

Reflecting on their upcoming Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins experience, the celebrity recruits commented:

Cole Anderson-James – Recruit Number 1: “I really wanted to take part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins for a change, for a bit of fun and to experience new things.”

Toby Olubi – Recruit Number 2: “I wanted to come on this course to show different dynamics of manhood – that you can be vulnerable and still powerful. I also wanted to use this opportunity to test my mettle, to learn from the experience and to come home with something more to offer to others!”

Jack Joseph – Recruit Number 3: “I think this is probably going be the toughest week of my life.  My dad was actually in the military, so he will not be happy if I make excuses or I moan or I don’t try a hundred percent.  I didn’t think being in the military was ever an option for me - I am scared of everything - flying, confrontation, large crowds, claustrophobia, bugs, insects, spiders.  I’m hoping that I can overcome those fears.  I need a big challenge.  If I manage to get through this, I think it would help a lot.”

Dani Dyer – Recruit Number 4: “I’m a massive fan of the show.  I’ve always watched it and wondered if I could do it. I want to put myself to the test.  I’m nuts, but I think I will be good at it.  I’ll be completely out of my comfort zone. I just hope that I will be able to stop listening to the voices in my head and just get to the end because that would make me so proud. I think physically I’ve got this.  Mentally is what I’ll struggle with as my brain attacks me all the bloody time. I just want to believe in myself a little bit more and stop being a negative Nancy.”

Gabby Allen – Recruit Number 5: “As a lot of people know me from being on Love Island, I think viewers are going to be really surprised when they see me on the course - I’m extremely determined and I don’t give up easily. Fitness is a huge part of my life with it being my job and working with hundreds of women daily helping them find joy in their health and wellness journey. I wanted to test my mental strength and challenge myself in a way I haven’t before and SAS certainly did that.”

“I’ve watched previous series and knew this was a once in a lifetime experience, and an opportunity for me to showcase a side of me that people haven’t seen before. I might be small but I have guts, am strong and am extremely competitive - watch this space"

Graeme Swann – Recruit Number 6: “I wanted to take part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, mostly to step out of my comfort zone and see how hard I could push myself but also, I wanted my kids to see that even the hardest tasks can be achieved if you just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

Ben Cohen – Recruit Number 7: “I wanted to take part to rediscover parts of myself but also to be tested mentally. We live with ourselves every day, so I wanted to test myself mentally and physically to try something really tough that would challenge my strength. It’ll be a good lesson for me.

“Facing the Aussies is going be very interesting. They might want to get the record straight, after 22 years of hurt...” 

Jessika Power – Recruit Number 8: “I chose to do Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins because I wanted to show a side of myself the public rarely gets to see — the vulnerable, determined, resilient version of me. I’ve been through a lot in my personal life and this was a chance to confront those challenges head-on. 

“I came into the experience hoping to learn more about who I am and wanting to walk out proud of myself, with a deeper sense of confidence, discipline and purpose.  I want to prove to the public that I’m not a reality bitch.”

Brad Hodge – Recruit Number 9: “Taking part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins was important for me so I could challenge myself physically and mentally in a different elite world that I am not accustomed to.”

Emily Seebohm – Recruit Number 10: “After being an Olympian for so long and missing the challenge of what it takes to get to the top level, with a toddler, I realise that if don’t do it now, I’ll never do it!”

Axle Whitehead – Recruit Number 11: “Growing up and working on our family farm, often in harsh conditions, taught me real physical and mental resilience. Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins terrified me, but I wanted to see whether I had the mettle to carry me through the toughest test on TV.”

Ryan Moloney – Recruit Number 12: “I chose to join the Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins course because after everything that I’ve gone through I want to grab this and tear the balls off it. It’s a huge challenge and a once in a lifetime opportunity.  I didn’t know what I wanted to get out of it but I knew if I gave it everything that I’d find out!”

Natalie Bassingthwaite – Recruit Number 13: “Turning 50 for me meant embracing new challenges. Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins was my opportunity to push my boundaries, test my limits, and prove that adventure truly knows no age"

Mack Horton – Recruit Number 14: “Leaving professional sport hasn’t meant losing that internal drive. I’ve been actively seeking challenges that force me to stretch, evolve and tap back into that competitive instinct. 

“The SAS training challenge stood out because there are very few environments as physically and mentally demanding. Their ability to train for any scenario, any environment, fascinated me — and the appeal of walking into something where the unknown is part of the experience was impossible to ignore.”

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No other test asks as much or means as much to the few who make it through and no allowances or exceptions will be made for this group of celebrities.  

Commenting on this year’s group of celebrity recruits, Chief Instructor, Billy said: “A challenge like no other, this series isn’t just a brutal personal course, their national pride is on the line! Who has the minerals to rise from the ashes or fade into the outback?

“North Africa has its own challenges, now throw the DS into the mix. Standby for tears, pain and glory. Now’s the time for them to give all to win all... Who Dares Wins!” 

DS Foxy said: "This year isn’t just about who can win The Ashes in Australia, this is also the year British celebrities are pitted against Australian. We, the DS, will combine the brutal terrain and environment of North Africa with our aggressive approach to the course to see who will be reduced to ashes or rise up from them. This is more than just a course, it’s a centuries old rivalry and we are stirring it up on a new front! Who Dares Wins!”

DS Rudy commented: “This is SAS: Who Dares Wins at its most dangerous, with blistering heat and a break-neck pace that will see even the strongest bite the dust.  Australia and UK - a rivalry in sport but now going head-to-head in the art and brutality of warfare.  North Africa is a blast furnace and the DS fan the fire until only the strongest remain.”

DS Chris added: “This is one of the most challenging courses to date, with the long-standing rivalry between Britain and Australia taking centre stage in the harshest setting, where relentless heat, dust, and sand make every moment intense. As the DS, we won’t need to guide these celebrities; they’ll have to unleash their full potential in order to thrive in this fierce environment. It’s time to bring their A Game if they’re to be successful!”

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is a Minnow Films production for Channel 4. The Executive Producers for series seven are Liam Humphreys, Dave Sutton and Joe Ward, the Series Producer is Kim Rossiter and Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor for Science, Travel and Adventure is Jonah Weston.