From glam influencers to professional boxers and wrestlers, SAS: Who Dares Wins Jungle Hell line-up revealed
THE SAS: Who Dares Wins – Jungle Hell line-up has been revealed.
In the eighth series, a new group of recruits face the toughest challenge of their life, in one of the toughest environments faced by Special Forces operatives.
Twenty ordinary men and women will enter SAS: Who Dares Wins in Thung Ui, North Vietnam, to attempt to complete the punishing jungle phase of SAS selection.
Taking the lead this year as Chief DS (directing staff) is Billy
(Mark Billingham MBE), an expert in jungle warfare, who spent half his decorated military career serving in the jungle.
He’s teamed up with new DS Chris Oliver, whose military
experience spans over 16 years, serving all over the globe. He’s re-joined by Foxy (Jason Fox), and Rudy Reyes from the US.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new recruits.
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Amelia, 28, Software Account Executive from London
Amelia is a software account executive who describes herself as loud, bubbly, chaotic, excitable and positive.
Up until the age of 18, Amelia used to compete across the UK in swimming competitions.
She was later bullied at school for having big muscles and was called ‘Popeye’.
This left Amelia with severe confidence issues which were made worse by the traumatic breakdown of a long-term relationship.
Amelia now realises the break-up was the best thing that ever happened to her – she cares about herself now more than ever, rather than living for someone else.
She wants to go on the course to prove the negative voices in her head are wrong once and for all.
Grant, 37, Bin Man from Edinburgh
Grant lives in Edinburgh with his fiancé and his two dogs Lola and Lucky.
Grant has an eclectic employment history, having worked as a fitness instructor on cruise ships and hotels across Europe for nearly eight years.
He now works in waste disposal and calls himself a ‘Ninja Binman’. Grant had a tough time growing up and was bullied at school because he had an interest in performing arts.
He also had trouble concentrating and put it down to just being a bit stupid. Throughout his life, Grant has struggled with his mental health and has suffered from extreme highs, lows and regular emotional outbursts.
Last year, after a dark spell, Grant was diagnosed with ADHD after his mum suggested that he speak to a professional about it.
After getting the diagnosis, Grant felt relief that he could understand why he has acted a certain way in his life but also frustration because he wishes he was diagnosed, while in school.
Grant sees taking part in SAS as a chance for rebirth after learning about his diagnosis. He admires the DS and hopes to learn from them.
Joshua, 24, Professional Boxer from Ilford
Joshua is an up-and-coming professional boxer. He grew up in East London with his mother, two older brothers and one older sister. His father wasn’t around much.
Joshua says he grew up in a neighbourhood where “the weak get eaten”.
He became involved in crime and was charged with possession of an offensive weapon before discovering boxing at the age of 16 and turning his life around.
He now has a young family and a promising career as a super-welterweight. Joshua says he is still battling the temptations of his youth, and as a result can come across as very reserved at first, but opens up once he gets to know the other people in his company.
Joshua claims he always thought showing emotion was a weakness but now realises it’s good to talk and wants to get rid of his demons.
Hilary (Hils), 31, Personal Trainer from Barnet
Hilary lives in North London with her two-year-old daughter and works as a HIIT, boxing and kettlebell instructor and PT.
She grew up in a traditional Columbian family and says walking into her mum’s house was like walking into Cali.
She competed in athletics when she was younger and later moved into body building and white-collar boxing.
When Hilary was four months pregnant, her relationship with her partner broke down. She left him and fell into pre and post-natal depression.
Hilary was eventually able to pull herself out of the depression and two years later is proud to be a single mum to a beautiful daughter and is in the best shape of her life. She wants to join the course to show that she is so much more than just a single mum.
Becky, 35, Housewife and mother from Basildon, Essex
Becky is a stay-at-home mum and lives with her husband and son. Growing up, Becky never felt she was particularly good at anything, and that her true calling was to be a mum.
When her son was two years old, Becky gave birth to a baby daughter, called Darcy. When Darcy was two and a half years old, she became unwell and couldn’t keep any food down.
Becky went to her GP, and it was put down to gastro-enteritis. It wasn’t until Darcy started walking in an unusual way that Becky’s rushed her to A&E, and she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
After surgery and several attempts to save her life, Darcy passed away three weeks later.
Becky’s son is the reason she gets out of bed in the morning, and Becky wants to prove that she can motivate herself through something without her son.
Stevie, 38, Professional Wrestler from Swansea
Stevie is a professional wrestler who goes by the stage name of Steve Starr. He’s been wrestling for 14 years and was once signed to the WWE in America.
He has recently performed as a stunt man in a marvel film and hopes to do more stunt work. When he’s not in the ring doing body slams and choke holds, Stevie can be found working as a doorman in a cocktail bar.
Stevie grew up in Swansea and lives with his dad. His parents split up when Stevie was a child, and he hasn’t spoken to his Mum for 18 years.
Although Stevie adopts a loud outgoing persona when wrestling, he’s actually a shy person, something he partly attributes to his parents’ divorce.
Stevie says it’s easier to go into the ring and be Stevie Starr than to be his true self in real life. Stevie wants to take on the course to try and gain more self-confidence.
Faye, 43, visiting professor/ Director of Operations from Leeds
Faye lives at home with her husband and two sons in Leeds. She grew up in an extremely turbulent family, involving alcoholism and physical abuse.
Faye was eventually taken into care at the age of 9 and over the course of the following two years she was moved between around 50 different emergency placements.
From a young age, Faye has been very strong willed and determined to change her life for the better. After leaving the care system aged 16, she was given her own council flat, got a job in a meat factory and decided to go to night school and re-sit her GCSEs.
After passing her exams, Faye worked tirelessly to become an engineer and now works as a Director of Operations at an international electronics firm.
Faye is also a competitive marathon runner and is studying for her pilot’s licence and a PhD. Despite her achievements, Faye struggles to feel proud of herself and wants to go on the course to keep proving herself.
Rosie, 22, IT Cyber Security Sales Account Manager from Basingstoke
Rosie is a European jiu jitsu medallist and multiple time English and British champion. Rosie had a tough childhood.
When Rosie was six years old, social services got involved with her family. After her father served time in prison and gave up drink and drugs, he took full custody of Rosie and her three siblings.
At 16, Rosie wanted to be independent and fend for herself, so she started saving for a house and eventually became a homeowner at 18.
Putting stability and her nine to five job ahead of her passion to join the military has left Rosie regretful. She settled down so young and wants to do the course to see if she is capable of being pushed to her limits and beyond.
Daniel, 29, Professional Ballet Dancer from Cheshire
Daniel is a ballet dancer for the Lithuanian National Ballet and has been dancing since he was six years old. His sister’s ballet teacher made him join their class while he was waiting for her to finish, and he’s never looked back.
Daniel used to wear a football shirt to class, so everyone knew he was a boy. Aged 15, Daniel got a place at the world-renowned Bolshoi ballet school in Moscow where he studied for four years.
He had never been away from home before and whilst studying there was only allowed home twice a year.
Daniel had to learn Russian as this was the only language that the teachers would speak.
He said the training was gruelling and there were many days he considered leaving. He is only the second British person to ever fully graduate from the school.
Daniel grew up in a rugby family and everyone expected him to follow suit. Daniel wants to take on the course to show that stereotypes of male ballet dancers aren’t always true.
Danica, 36, Health and wellness coach from London
Danica is a yoga teacher, wellbeing and performance coach and says people would describe her as someone who is energetic, loving and lights up a room when she walks in.
Danica’s parents split up when she was young and she decided to live with her dad, who she was very close with. Sadly, last year her father committed suicide, and due to Covid she was unable to see him before he died.
Danica thinks she has been put on this earth to live a free life and the closer she is to danger, the more alive she feels. Danica thinks that not much in life challenges her, but she hopes the course will do just that.
Zachariah, 27, Chef from Woolacombe
Zac is a head chef at a restaurant in Woolacombe, North Devon. He describes himself as loud, outspoken and demanding, and says people don’t know how to take him.
Zac didn’t have much of a family life growing up, his dad left when he was young, and his mum remarried. He says he often struggles with authority figures and that his mouth can get him into trouble. He also says he’s scared of heights, snakes and clowns.
Zac was sexually abused by a man . He subsequently had years of therapy and took anti depressants for five years.
Zac wants to find his purpose in life, he says he still has very dark thoughts and the only thing that helps him is exercise. He wants to see how he reacts to being pushed to his limits.
Aliyah, 26, Influencer from South East London
Aliyah was born in South Africa and moved to the UK when she was a baby.
She is a social media influencer with over 175,000 subscribers on YouTube, and says she ‘fell into’ influencing after uploading videos to YouTube and hasn’t looked back since.
Aliyah recently suffered a miscarriage six months into her pregnancy and documented her journey on social media. She became pregnant again but sadly she miscarried a second time, at exactly the same stage. Aliyah now feels it’s her responsibility to raise awareness of miscarriages.
Aliyah wants to take on the course as she thinks ‘it will heal me in the most twisted of ways, and I want to get my spark back’.
Pete, 33, Firefighter from East Midlands
Pete is a firefighter from the East Midlands and has worked for the fire service for the last 15 years.
Aged 15 Pete started playing Roller Hockey for GB and started going to the gym to boost his performance levels. Keen to also improve his physique, Pete got into power lifting.
Pete thought getting stronger would make him happy and stop bullies from picking on him, so he started taking steroids.
As his habit escalated, he was eventually thrown out of his family home at 18 because his parents found needles in his room.
Pete has now given up steroids and hosts a podcast for the firefighter community where he also openly discusses their damaging side effects.
He’s now realised the real values of being a strong person on the inside and wants to take on the course to test his inner strength and determination.
Ross, 41, Security Manager from Kent
Ross is a security manager and former firefighter. He says people would describe him as a cross between Captain America and a staffy dog.
Ross grew up as a Romany Gypsy, in a family with a very strict father. His parents met at a fun fair and his mum ran away with his dad to live in a caravan. They home schooled Ross in a traditional Gypsy lifestyle without running water or electricity.
Ross says his parents faced a lot of hatred from the local community and councils and as a result moved around a lot.
Last year, Ross gave his parents a lift to his brother’s wedding and unknowingly gave them Covid. Ross’ father didn’t believe in medicine or even the fact that Covid existed. He sadly died a week later.
Ross wants to do the course so he can live a little closer to his childhood dream of being in the Army.
Scott, 35, Hedge Fund Trader, born in Zimbabwe and living in London
Scott is 34 and lives in London with his fiancé. Scott had a tough upbringing and was moved around constantly as a child. His family finally settled in Botswana, but he had to travel across the border to Zimbabwe every day just to go to school.
Scott was eventually sent to boarding school where he suffered emotional and physical abuse. At the age of 18 his dad gave him the option of flying to the UK to study at university, which Scott agreed to do hoping for a career in finance.
After graduation and years of sending applications, Scott finally secured an internship at a bank, where he was the only black trader working on his trading floor.
Scott now works alongside a charity to encourage and support diversity and inclusion in investment banking and wants to take on the course to prove that anything is possible.
Jordan, 28, Professional boxer and PT from Newcastle
Jordan was raised in the travelling community living in a caravan and spending long periods not going to school. When she did go to school Jordan struggled to fit in and says she stuck out like a sore thumb. Eventually, Jordan decided to knuckle down and achieved good grades.
After coming out as gay aged 16, Jordan was ostracised by the travelling community. She then lived with her grandma who has since brought her up. This dark period caused Jordan to turn to substance abuse and violence, resulting in her waking up one morning with the police at her door investigating a fight that Jordan couldn’t even remember.
Four years ago, Jordan discovered boxing and something clicked as she found a healthy outlet for energy and emotions. Jordan is now a professional boxer and lives with her wife and one year old baby.
Having struggled with acceptance in her life, Jordan wants to now take on the challenge of being accepted by the world’s most elite fighting force.
Jamie, 32, Model/Footballer from Bretforton, Worcestershire
Jamie was born profoundly deaf and is the only deaf member of his family. He was given a cochlear implant when he was six years old and found it overwhelming hearing sounds for the first time. Jamie now prefers to not wear it as he often prefers the peacefulness of silence.
Growing up, Jamie was popular at school because he was good at football. He started playing for Worcester and was scouted by England’s Deaf Football Team who he now captains. Jamie has played in major tournaments such as the World Cup, Deaflympics and Euro Champs. He is the highest goal scorer in the GB Deaf team’s history.
Jamie’s wanted to do the SAS: Who Dares Wins course because he wanted to be taken further out of his comfort zone. He also wanted to prove that deaf people are just as capable as anyone else.
Levi, 34, HGV lorry driver from London
Levi works as an HGV driver but has a colourful career history including a ballet shoemaker, a shop assistant at Sainsbury’s and a lighting technician. He lives at home with his Mum and 16-year-old sister.
Levi’s brother Joshua was one year older than him and they were extremely close, Levi looked up to him like a father. In 2013 Levi came home to find him dead in the bath, he had died of a brain haemorrhage. Levi tried to do CPR but it didn’t work.
This traumatic event completely shook Levi’s world; he says from the minute he saw his brother dead, his heart completely broke in two. He started drinking every day and was in an extremely bad place mentally. A few years ago, Levi moved to the Middle East to stop drinking, and focused on Ju Jitsu as a force for self-discipline.
For the first time that Levi can remember he is happy and in a good place in his life. Although he recently got rejected from the paratroopers, something that he had wanted to do since he was a child, because he has a tattoo on his face in memory of his brother. Levi wants to celebrate how far he has come since his brother’s death and show himself how strong he really is.
Anne, 41, Horse riding coach, farmers wife and parent from Rugby, Nuneaton and Coventry
Anne is a farmer’s wife and horse-riding coach. She met her husband when she was 17 and they have two children. Anne says being a farmer’s wife means she is constantly providing for others and often forgets about what she wants for herself. She also often feels guilty about wanting to do things for herself.
Anne likes to horse ride competitively and is hoping that being put through her paces by the DS will challenge her in a similar way.
Anne wants to take on the course to regain more of her own identity and prove to herself that she doesn’t have to be feel guilty for doing things that are just for her.
Charlotte, 27, Performance and Lifestyle Nutritionist from Leeds
Charlotte has her own nutrition consultancy business and helps elite athletes to perform at their best in competitions. Charlotte was born into a very competitive family, with three sisters who excelled at swimming, whilst Charlotte preferred 10m diving and running ultra marathons.
Three years ago, Charlotte was raped and subsequently suffered severe panic attacks and depression. As a result, she has a huge trust issues and wants to break this down and move forward.
Charlotte also struggles to maintain social connections and automatically assumes that people are going to let her down. She wants to take on the course to expand her horizons and looks forward to being surrounded by people and knowing that they’ll have her back.
SAS: Who Dares Wins – Jungle Hell begins on Monday, January 23 at 9pm on Channel 4.