Welcome to the jungle: Matt Hancock joins Iraq veteran in new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
Former health secretary and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! finalist Matt Hancock will be joining RAF veteran and Paralympic gold medallist Jon-Allan Butterworth in the latest series of Channel 4's Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Mr Hancock, who lost the Tory whip due to his appearance on ITV's I'm A Celeb in 2022, is back for another bite of the reality TV apple - but this time the challenges he faces will be significantly more brutal.
The fifth series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins sees competitors take part in one of the toughest environments faced by Special Forces - the jungle.
Shooting has now wrapped, and Mr Hancock said the jungle had really tested his resilience, adding: "Being on SAS was like nothing else I've ever experienced.
"It's one of the toughest physical and mental things I've ever done. It really opens your eyes and makes you look into yourself.
"After coming through the most challenging period as health secretary during the pandemic, I wanted to push my limits."
Meanwhile, former Royal Air Force weapons technician Mr Butterworth, who announced his retirement from professional cycling in 2020, will have an advantage over his fellow recruits - the resilience his military service has taught him.
After joining the RAF in 2002 and serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr Butterworth's military career came to an end in August 2007 when he was injured in a rocket explosion at Basra Air Station, which resulted in the amputation of his arm.
However, just 10 weeks later he took part in a Paralympic Talent ID day in Loughborough which launched his cycling career.
During 11 years with Team GB's cycling team, the RAF veteran won four Paralympic medals, one of which was gold at the 2016 Rio Games.
On why he wanted to take part in SAS: Who Dares Wins, Mr Butterworth said: "My military career was cut short, so I wanted to see whether I have what it takes to survive in a world the DS (Directing Staff) think is normal."
Fifteen other familiar faces will join Mr Hancock and Mr Butterworth to face one of the toughest challenges of their lives, the most gruelling stages of SAS selection.
Trying to survive in the most unforgiving jungle in the world, Thung Ui in northern Vietnam, will be singers Gareth Gates, Michelle Heaton and Siva Kaneswaran, Great British Olympian Perri Shakes-Drayton, TV personality Danielle Lloyd, TV presenter Melinda Messenger and former footballer Jermaine Pennant.
The line-up will be completed by former Welsh Rugby International Gareth Thomas, reality TV stars James 'Arg' Argent, Montana Brown, Teddy Soares and Amber Turner, comedian Zoe Lyons and actor Kirsty-Leigh Porter.
Not everyone will have what it takes to make it to the end of the course run by the elite team of ex-Special Forces operators – chief instructor Billy Billingham and his team of Directing Staff (DS), Jason 'Foxy' Fox, Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver.
Mr Billingham, a jungle warfare expert, said: "SAS selection course follows the ethos of the regiment.
"Self-motivation, self-discipline, pursuit of excellence and the will to never give up.
"Our recruits will be pushed emotionally, physically and mentally beyond anything they have ever experienced.
"The standards will never drop - but most of the recruits will.
"No concessions. No excuses. Only results."
Former Special Forces operator and newest member of the DS, Mr Oliver said: "If these celebrities think we'll be going easy on them, they can think again.
"The jungle is relentless and the environment is out to get you.
"If we don't break them, the hot, humid temperatures and the insects will."
The DS do not 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.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday 26 September at 9.30pm and continues every Sunday at 9pm from 1 October.
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
