SAS: Who Dares Wins
SAS: Who Dares Wins is a reality quasi-military training television programme broadcast by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom since 19 October 2015. It features civilians, and later celebrities, attempting to complete a modified version of SAS training. The original civilian series was shelved indefinitely in 2023 to continue prioritising success of the celebrity series.
Format
The show pits contestants against harsh environments all around the world, in a shortened training course designed to simulate a condensed version of the actual United Kingdom Special Forces selection course. The show's Directing Staff take the recruits through hostile and unforgiving warfare environments, while testing their mental and physical ability through a series of realistic training exercises. Each series ends with a simulated experience of being captured and interrogated, which is overseen by an anonymous former senior chief intelligence officer referred to as "the Umpire".Unlike many reality competition series, there are no formal elimination points. Instead, each contestants is given a numbered armband, which they can hand in to the DS in order to 'voluntarily withdraw' themselves if they feel they cannot continue. They can also be culled by the DS or be medically withdrawn.
History
The fourth series, which aired in early 2019, allowed female recruits to take part for the first time, in line with the Ministry of Defence's announcement that women would now be able to serve in all areas of the UK military, including the Special Forces.A celebrity version aired for the first time in 2019 in aid of Stand Up to Cancer. Chief instructor Ant Middleton said of the concept, ‘Celebrities go through their lives showing the public a front and face they want them to see but this process stripped all that away.’
After the eighth series of the civilian version concluded in 2023, the civilian version was shelved indefinitely in order to prioritise the celebrity version, which Channel 4 deemed a 'huge success'.
Cast
The original Chief Instructor was Ant Middleton, an ex-United Kingdom Special Forces operator who served in the Special Boat Service. The other Directing Staff consisted of Jason 'Foxy' Fox, a former SBS operator; Mark 'Billy' Billingham, an ex-SAS Sergeant Major; and Matthew 'Ollie' Ollerton.In 2021, Middleton was dismissed from the show over his 'personal conduct'. It was speculated that this was linked to Middleton's controversial tweets about the Black Lives Matter movement. Middleton subsequently claimed 'the woke patrol have kicked in to the point where we can't say anything, we can't be ourselves'.
In October 2021, former United States Recon Marine Rudy Reyes was announced as the series's new Chief Instructor. In 2023, the Directing Staff were joined by Chris Oliver, a former Royal Marine Mountain Leader and ex-Special Boat Service operator.
Other DS have included Melvyn Downes in 2021, who served in the SAS for 12 years and was the first DS member of colour, and Veteran Navy SEAL Senior Chief Remi Adeleke in 2022.
Regular series
| Series | Winners |
| 1 | Freddie Iron and Ryan Roddy |
| 2 | Moses Adeyemi |
| 3 | Jonathan Davis and Matt Sallis |
| 4 | Mark Peart, Louise McCullough and Milo Mackin |
| 5 | James Priestley and Chris O |
| 6 | Connor Smyth and Kieran Lang |
| 7 | Shylla Duhaney and Paige Zima |
| 8 | Grant, Hilary and Joshua |
Celebrity series
| Series | Winners |
| 1 | Wayne Bridge |
| 2 | Lauren Steadman and DJ Locksmith |
| 3 | Alexandra Burke, Aled Davies and Wes Nelson |
| 4 | Calum Best, Ferne McCann, AJ Pritchard and Maisie Smith |
| 5 | Gareth Gates |
| 6 | Georgia Harrison and Lani Daniels |
| 7 | Troy Deeney, Michaella McCollum and Lucy Spraggan |
| 8 | Emily Seebohm, Dani Dyer and Gabby Allen |
Series 1 (2019)
In April 2019, a special series in which all of the recruits were celebrities was aired as Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, for Stand Up to Cancer UK. Among the celebrity recruits were Victoria Pendleton, Ben Foden, Heather Fisher, AJ Odudu, Jeff Brazier, Wayne Bridge, Sam Thompson, Andrea McLean, Jeremy Irvine, Dev, Louise Mensch and Camilla Thurlow. Unlike previous series, this celebrity version was filmed in the Andes Mountains in Chile.| Recruit | Celebrity | Known for | Status |
| 8 | Wayne Bridge | Former Premier League footballer | |
| 11 | AJ Odudu | Television presenter | |
| 3 | Jeff Brazier | Television presenter | |
| 5 | Victoria Pendleton | Former Olympic track cyclist | |
| 12 | Sam Thompson | Television & radio personality | |
| 9 | Ben Foden | England rugby union player | |
| 10 | Heather Fisher | Rugby union and rugby sevens player | |
| 6 | Jeremy Irvine | Actor | |
| 2 | Dev | BBC Radio 1 presenter | |
| 7 | Camilla Thurlow | Love Island finalist & humanitarian worker | |
| 4 | Andrea McLean | Former Loose Women panellist | |
| 1 | Louise Mensch | Blogger, novelist & former Conservative MP |
Series 2 (2020)
A second celebrity series began airing on Monday 20 April 2020. Among the celebrity recruits were: Katie Price, Joey Essex, Anthea Turner, Helen Skelton, Brendan Cole, John Fashanu, Nikki Sanderson, Jack Maynard, Lauren Steadman, Locksmith, Tony Bellew and Yasmin Evans. This series was filmed on the island of Raasay in Scotland.| Recruit | Celebrity | Known for | Status |
| 6 | Locksmith | DJ of Rudimental | |
| 7 | Lauren Steadman | Paralympic athlete | |
| 10 | Helen Skelton | Television presenter | |
| 8 | Nikki Sanderson | Actress | |
| 1 | Joey Essex | Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member | |
| 11 | Tony Bellew | Former professional boxer | |
| 2 | Brendan Cole | Former Strictly Come Dancing professional | |
| 12 | Yasmin Evans | Radio & television presenter | |
| 4 | John Fashanu | Former England footballer & television presenter | |
| 9 | Jack Maynard | YouTube personality & DJ | |
| 5 | Anthea Turner | Television presenter | |
| 3 | Katie Price | Model, media & TV personality |
Series 3 (2021)
A third celebrity series began airing on 29 August 2021. Among the celebrity recruits were: Ulrika Jonsson, Kerry Katona, Alexandra Burke, Wes Nelson, James Cracknell, Shanaze Reade, Ore Oduba, Aled Davies, Vicky Pattison, Saira Khan, Kieron Dyer and Jake Quickenden. The series was filmed on the island of Raasay in Scotland.| Recruit | Celebrity | Known for | Status |
| 7 | Alexandra Burke | Singer, songwriter & actress | |
| 8 | Aled Davies | Paralympic athlete | |
| 9 | Wes Nelson | Singer & television personality | |
| 2 | Ore Oduba | Television & radio presenter | |
| 6 | James Cracknell | Former Olympic rower | |
| 12 | Kieron Dyer | Former Premier League footballer | |
| 4 | Jake Quickenden | Singer & television personality | |
| 10 | Shanaze Reade | Former BMX racer | |
| 11 | Vicky Pattison | Television & media personality | |
| 5 | Saira Khan | Television & media personality | |
| 3 | Ulrika Jonsson | Television presenter | |
| 1 | Kerry Katona | Television & media personality |
Series 4 (2022)
A fourth series began airing on 4 September 2022. Among the celebrity recruits were: Calum Best, Maisie Smith, Jonathan Broom-Edwards, Ashley Cain, Dwain Chambers, Shannon Courtenay, Jennifer Ellison, Jade Jones, Amber Gill, AJ Pritchard, Curtis Pritchard, Ferne McCann, Pete Wicks and Fatima Whitbread; she was 60 years old when the series was filmed and is the show's oldest recruit. The series was set in Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan and filmed in October 2021; the former set of French game show The Desert Forges was used as the base.| Recruit | Celebrity | Known for | Status |
| 8 | AJ Pritchard | Former Strictly Come Dancing professional | |
| 3 | Calum Best | Television personality | |
| 4 | Ferne McCann | Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member | |
| 12 | Maisie Smith | Former EastEnders actress | |
| 10 | Jade Jones | Olympic taekwondo athlete | |
| 14 | Ashley Cain | Footballer & television personality | |
| 11 | Shannon Courtenay | Professional boxer | |
| 6 | Jonathan Broom-Edwards | Paralympic athlete | |
| 1 | Jennifer Ellison | Former Brookside actress | |
| 5 | Fatima Whitbread | Olympic javelin thrower | |
| 9 | Curtis Pritchard | Professional dancer & Love Island finalist | |
| 13 | Dwain Chambers | Olympic sprinter | |
| 2 | Pete Wicks | The Only Way Is Essex cast member | |
| 7 | Amber Gill | Love Island winner & author |
Series 5 (2023)
The line-up for the fifth series was announced on 14 September 2023. The series was set in Thung Ui, Northern Vietnam and began airing on 26 September 2023. Among the celebrity recruits were: Danielle Lloyd, Michelle Heaton, Amber Turner, Melinda Messenger, Gareth Gates, Matt Hancock, Gareth Thomas, James Argent, Jermaine Pennant, Siva Kaneswaran, Jon-Allan Butterworth, Teddy Soares, Montana Brown, Kirsty-Leigh Porter, Perri Shakes-Drayton and Zoe Lyons.| Recruit | Celebrity | Known for | Status |
| 7 | Gareth Gates | Singer-songwriter & actor | |
| 11 | Danielle Lloyd | Model & television personality | |
| 1 | Matt Hancock | Conservative Party politician | |
| 6 | Perri Shakes-Drayton | Olympic athlete | |
| 3 | Teddy Soares | Love Island contestant | |
| 10 | Amber Turner | The Only Way Is Essex cast member | |
| 13 | Zoe Lyons | Comedian | |
| 2 | James Argent | Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member | |
| 8 | Montana Brown | Love Island contestant | |
| 5 | Jermaine Pennant | Footballer | |
| 14 | Siva Kaneswaran | The Wanted singer | |
| 9 | Jon-Allan Butterworth | Paralympic cyclist | |
| 12 | Gareth Thomas | Former Wales rugby player | |
| 15 | Melinda Messenger | Model & television personality | |
| 4 | Michelle Heaton | Liberty X singer | |
| 16 | Kirsty-Leigh Porter | Hollyoaks actress |
Series 6 (2024)
An eight-part sixth series began airing in September 2024; the filming took place in New Zealand. The line-up for the series was reported in July 2023, with Pete Wicks set to feature as the first returning recruit following his medical evacuation from the fourth series.| Recruit | Celebrity | Known for | Status |
| 10 | Georgia Harrison | Television personality | |
| 9 | Lani Daniels | New Zealand Professional boxer | |
| 3 | Bianca Gascoigne | Model & television personality | |
| 8 | Anthony Ogogo | Olympic boxer & Professional Wrestler | |
| 7 | Ovie Soko | Love Island finalist & basketball player | |
| 15 | Bobby Norris | Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member | |
| 12 | Cherry Healey | Television presenter | |
| 5 | Pete Wicks | Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member | |
| 14 | Shazia Mirza | Stand-up comedian & actress | |
| 2 | Rachel Johnson | Journalist & television presenter | |
| 1 | Ellie Downie | Olympic artistic gymnast | |
| 11 | Chris Robshaw | Former England rugby player | |
| 6 | Tez Ilyas | Stand-up comedian | |
| 4 | Marnie Simpson | Geordie Shore cast member | |
| 13 | John Barrowman | Actor & singer |
Series 7 (2025)
In June 2024, it was reported that filming of the seventh series would take place that summer in Wales. The series was filmed on the island of Anglesey and began airing on 3 August 2025.| Recruit | Celebrity | Known for | Status |
| 10 | Troy Deeney | Former professional footballer | |
| 3 | Michaella McCollum | Convicted drug smuggler | |
| 4 | Lucy Spraggan | Singer-songwriter | |
| 1 | Bimini Bon-Boulash | Drag queen | |
| 8 | Adam Collard | Love Island contestant | |
| 11 | Conor Benn | Professional boxer | |
| 13 | Rebecca Loos | Former glamour model and media personality | |
| 9 | Lady Leshurr | Rapper & singer | |
| 6 | Harry Clark | The Traitors winner | |
| 2 | Adebayo “The Beast” Akinfenwa | Former professional footballer | |
| 5 | Tasha Ghouri | Love Island contestant | |
| 12 | Chloe Burrows | Love Island contestant | |
| 14 | Louie Spence | Dancer & choreographer | |
| 7 | Hannah Spearritt | Singer and actress |
Series 8 (2026)
In December 2025, it was announced that the next series would see seven Australian celebrities and seven UK celebrities go against each other in Morocco and would begin airing in January 2026.International versions
Banijay holds the international rights to the show, and a total of six international adaptions have currently been produced around the globe; amongst the first ones were Australia, Denmark and Sweden.An Australian version of the show is currently being produced for Seven Network as SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins. Its first season was Australia's most watched new show of the year. It aired for four series, before being cancelled in 2024. The Swedish version, Elitstyrkans hemligheter, is broadcast on TV4 and premiered on 24 January 2021. It won the reality show category award at Kristallen 2021.
The Dutch version, Special Forces VIPS: Wie durft wint, premiered on 19 December 2021 on RTL's streaming platform Videoland. The Finnish version, Erikoisjoukot, premiered on 30 May 2022, on Nelonen and its streaming service Ruutu. It was also nominated at the Golden Venla awards in 2022.
An American version, Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, premiered on 4 January 2023 on Fox. The Belgium version, titled Special Forces: Wie Durft Wint, premiered in summer 2023 on VTM network.
Legend: Currently airing Upcoming version/season
No longer airing Current status unknown
| Country | Title | Narrated by | Current Directing Staff | Network | First aired |
 Australia |