Celebrity SAS trainers reveal what REALLY happens away from cameras

The celebrity SAS trainers have revealed what REALLY happens on set in the moments that are cut from the Channel 4 show – including their 22-hour days and plotting against the stars in their secret camp. 

Series eight of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins will return to screens on Sunday (January 4 2026). 

The first ever season of the celebrity version of the show aired in 2019, and viewers are now going to be treated to eight new episodes involving famous faces from the UK and Australia. 

Dani Dyer, 28, Gabby Allen, 33, Jessika Power, 33, Jack Joseph, 25, Cole Anderson-James, 28, Ryan Moloney, 45, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, 50, Ben Cohen, 46, Toby Olubi, 37, Graeme Swann, 46, Brad Hodge, 50, Emily Seebohm, 33, Mack Horton, 29, and Axle Whitehead, 44, are part of the star-studded cast.

Of course, chief instructor Billy Bilingham MBE, as well as Jason Fox, Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver will be back to put them through their paces.

Fans of the programme have probably wondered what it’s like for the directing staff while filming, and during a chat with the Daily Mail and other media at the show’s press junket, they revealed exactly that. 

Jason – who has been on the show since 2015 – revealed: ‘We sleep in a tent. On this, on this particular occasion, we’re in a tent around the corner, so we’re on set. 

‘It just doesn’t really make it in, because everyone’s more interested in the cast, but we probably get it a little bit better than them, but it is the same food. We probably get more of it. 

‘But when they’re sleeping a lot of the time, we’re still we’re still up prepping for the next day, debriefing from the day that’s just happened, talking about who we need to concentrate on. 

‘We they’re resting, when you see us sat down and we’re going through each individual cast member, we’re there, you know, going through who they are, what they’ve done with a fine tooth comb. 

‘So there’s a lot of graft involved to be honest, it’s the long hours for us as the DS. 

‘We don’t just bugger off to a Winnebago and chill out. If only!

‘And then there’s a lot going on. Also, we’re giving each other sh**. I’ve got a sleep opposite Rudy, he’s always got his pants on. Does my head in.

‘Billy… His bed space. I very rarely see him make his bed. 

‘We’re just four lads that live together and have a bit of a laugh at the same time.’

When mentioned that fans would probably love to see what they get up to as part of a spin-off show, Billy said: ‘We have a very dark sense of humor. That’s a problem for the public.

‘It’s interesting. I would say we have a good laugh. It’s like being back in the military, I think that’s the reason why we all love it.

‘We can actually be ourselves for a short period of time, although it’s all filmed, and they’re just never used…’There’s some bloopers that they probably could use that would be funny.

‘But what Foxy said there, people don’t realise we knock out 20 day, probably anything from 19 to 21, sometimes 22 hours. And that’s a fact. 

‘When everybody’s sleeping and the prayers, as you see, five seconds of it, we’re in that room for an hour going through every single individual, so that we know where to work on that person to get the better, physical, mental, emotional, whatever it was, we need to work on them. 

‘And they don’t show a lot of it on TV, probably, probably because it’s boring, but we do.’

Chris added: ‘It’s intense. You need to remember as well that our living spaces, our dining spaces, our meeting spaces, the production come and have conversations about what’s happening the next day. 

‘We’ve got to prep all our kit for the next day. We’ve got admin ourselves, as well as all the stuff that goes with the TV show. 

‘We’re constantly on call. We are hearing distance from the White Rock. So when they come to the White Rock and they shout the “DS”, generally, we’re in there in our pants. 

‘So I need to put your clothes on, go out to tend to them, which is normally the one some either some bit of kick replacing, or want or something like that, and then you’re straight into it. 

‘So the cost doesn’t stop 24 hours a day for us.’

Fans of SAS have a lot to look forward to this season. 

The eight-part series will celebrities from the UK and Australia battle it out in North Africa. 

 Speaking about the new element, Chris explained: ‘I think it’s absolutely brutal. There’s a lot more Jeopardy in it. It’s not an individual thing as such. 

‘At the start, because we’ve set the scene, it’s England versus Australia. We’re the referees, and we’re going to they’re going to go toward the tour.

‘It’s absolutely brutal. The conditions, for me was the hardest series I’ve done. I’ve worked in hot countries before, but they seem to magnify it, just because the nature of the accommodation, it was intense. It was brutal. 

‘There was no way of escaping it. 

‘The tasks, because the daylight hours were ran at peak heat. We were exposed. It was brutal for us as DS, let alone them as recruits.

‘And they brought their A-game, so you’re going to see definitely blood, sweat and tears.’

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins kicks off on Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4.