SAS: Who Dares Wins hardman Chris Oliver opens up about hunky heartthrob status
NEW SAS: Who Dares Wins hardman Chris Oliver admits he’s never been called a hunk in his life, despite viewers praising his good looks.
The military veteran, 40, who has served four tours of Afghanistan and seen combat in Iraq, Northern Ireland and Sierra Leone, is over a decade younger than his fellow Directing Staff - Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham, Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox and former US marine Rudy Reyes.
And fans of Channel 4 series have welcomed the latest addition with enthusiasm, believing he’s made the show more “attractive”.
Speaking exclusively in his first ever newspaper interview, Chris says: “I have a wry chuckle to myself when I read about that, it’s a nice problem to have.
“But it is what it is, people will take it or leave it. I can brutally say I’ve never been called a hunk along my way but if people say that, I’ll take it.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a pretty boy either - maybe ruggedly handsome?”
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Indeed, some have even joked he wouldn’t look out of place on Love Island, but Chris says he couldn’t be more different to the lads currently in filming the new winter series on ITV2.
The Sunderland-born star adds: “I might not look out of place in the villa, but I definitely would be out of place in the villa.
“I’m much more adaptable to the down and dirty, rugged, muddy and exhilarating side of life, as opposed to sitting by a pool and doing whatever they are doing in Love Island.”
Former Special Forces Operator and Royal Marine Mountain Leader Chris, who has 16 years combat experience, joined the series as the DS staff put 20 recruits through a SAS-style selection course in the jungle for the first time.
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But he plays down any suggestions he could be seen as a soft touch in North Vietnam, a stance backed up in last Monday’s series opener when viewers saw him tear into the 20 new recruits.
Chris admits he can be “fiery” but what annoys him the most is “lack of discipline and attention to detail”.
He also insists the show hasn’t gone “woke,” an accusation made by former DS Ant Middleton who claims the show has been made “easier” and now focuses more on the recruits’ “sob stories”.
Chris says: “I’ve seen things reported in the press and watched the show from a distance and the key personalities from the show, but I say, ‘hey, get your name down on the course and see what it’s all about and you’ll soon find out there’s nothing woke about it’.
“This course is brutal, even for me coming from that environment, to see it put in practice was impressive to say the least because these recruits are put through their paces.”