Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins – 2024 Winners, Cast and Guide
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins subjects well-known personalities to authentic Special Air Service selection challenges on Channel 4. The series distinguishes itself from typical reality competitions by testing mental resilience and physical endurance rather than employing voting formats or single victors.
Launched in 2020 as a spin-off from the civilian version that began five years earlier, the programme places celebrities in extreme environments across Wales. Participants face interrogation resistance training, survival scenarios, and team deception exercises designed by former special forces operatives.
Unlike conventional elimination formats, multiple celebrities can win by passing the gruelling course. The latest series concluded in August 2024 with three winners from an initial cast of twelve, while several others withdrew due to injuries or psychological pressures.
What Is Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and How Does It Work?
The programme operates on a pass-or-fail basis rather than competitive elimination. Multiple winners emerge when several recruits meet the required standards during the final interrogation phase.
- Multiple winners possible per series based on passing the course rather than competitive elimination
- High dropout rates occur through voluntary “number” handover or mandatory staff removal
- Authentic SAS involvement includes former special forces instructors overseeing training
- Compressed schedule runs 6–8 episodes compared to the civilian version’s 4–6 weeks
- Challenges span physical endurance, navigation, heights exposure, and interrogation resistance
- Instructors maintain strict standards with zero tolerance for participants seeking publicity
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Parent Series | SAS: Who Dares Wins (2015–present) |
| Production Company | Minnow Films |
| Typical Location | Wales (including jungle phases) |
| Broadcast Schedule | Sundays/Mondays, 9:00 PM |
| Selection Criteria | Course completion (pass/fail) |
| Exit Methods | Voluntary quit or instructor removal |
| 2024 Winners | Troy Deeney, Lucy Spraggan, Michaella McCollum |
| 2024 Finalists | 5 reached final, 3 passed |
| Recent Controversy | Harry Clark removed for deception (Episode 4) |
Who Won Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and Who Competed in 2024?
Series 7 (2024) Winners
Troy Deeney, Lucy Spraggan, and Michaella McCollum passed the final interrogation and physical assessments to complete the course. The final episode aired on 25 August 2024. Five celebrities reached the final episode, though only three met the exacting standards required for passing.
Previous Celebrity Winners
The celebrity format began in 2020 with Series 6, producing winners Lauren Steadman and Leon “Locksmith” Rolle. The 2021 series saw Alexandra Burke, Aled Davies, and Wes Nelson complete the course. In 2022, Calum Best, Ferne McCann, and AJ Pritchard achieved passing status.
The 2024 Cast Composition
Twelve celebrities commenced the 2024 series. Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 2025 reports confirm the 2024 lineup included footballer Troy Deeney, singer Lucy Spraggan, journalist Michaella McCollum, drag performer Bimini, Love Island alumni Adam Collard and Tasha Ghouri, boxer Conor Benn, dancer Louie Spence, The Traitors winner Harry Clark, S Club 7 member Hannah Spearritt, media personality Rebecca Loos, rapper Lady Leshurr, footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa, and Love Island participant Chloe Burrows.
One report lists Dani Dyer-Bowen, Gabby Allen, and Emily Seebohm as winners, contradicting primary sources naming Deeney, Spraggan, and McCollum. This conflict likely stems from erroneous reporting or confusion regarding unconfirmed future series.
What Challenges Cause Celebrities to Drop Out?
Physical and Psychological Pressures
The selection process exposes participants to heights-based tasks including bungee exercises, extended physical endurance tests, and simulated hostile environment interrogations. These challenges aim to replicate authentic SAS selection criteria used by British special forces.
Notable Exits from Series 7
Hannah Spearritt withdrew during the first episode, followed shortly by Louie Spence after refusing to continue. Chloe Burrows exited in episode two, citing the intensity as “too much.” Medical withdrawals occurred in episode four when Adebayo Akinfenwa aggravated a knee injury, and in episode five when Lady Leshurr suffered a neck injury. Rebecca Loos quit during episode five due to fear of heights.
Harry Clark’s removal marked a distinct category of exit. Staff removed Clark during episode four for deceiving teammates during a task, violating the programme’s ethical standards. Adam Collard quit following the final interrogation, while Bimini failed the interrogation phase.
Instructors may medically withdraw participants for injuries sustained during tasks. Series 7 saw two such withdrawals due to knee and neck injuries that prevented safe continuation.
How Does the Celebrity Format Differ from the Civilian Original?
The civilian SAS: Who Dares Wins began in 2015, featuring non-celebrity recruits attempting selection over four to six weeks. Winners from the main series include corporate finance manager Freddie Iron, MMA fighter Ryan Roddy, keynote speaker Moses Adeyemi, and doctor Louise McCullough, the first female winner.
SAS: Who Dares Wins past winners from the civilian version complete identical physical and mental assessments, though the celebrity edition compresses the timeline into 6–8 episodes for broadcast purposes. Both versions maintain the same pass-fail criteria and instructor standards.
Both formats evaluate recruits against authentic SAS selection standards rather than against each other. This explains why zero, one, or multiple participants may pass any given series.
When Has Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins Aired?
- : Series 6 launches the celebrity format. Winners: Lauren Steadman and Leon “Locksmith” Rolle.
- : Second celebrity series airs. Winners: Alexandra Burke, Aled Davies, and Wes Nelson.
- : Third celebrity series. Winners: Calum Best, Ferne McCann, and AJ Pritchard.
- : Series 7 broadcasts over eight episodes from 3 August to 25 August. Winners: Troy Deeney, Lucy Spraggan, and Michaella McCollum. Wikipedia confirms the broadcast timeline.
What Is Confirmed About Future Series and What Remains Uncertain?
Established Information
- Series 7 concluded 25 August 2024 with three confirmed winners
- Main civilian series Series 6 ended June 2024
- Applications remain open for future main series entries
- Channel 4 has not officially commissioned a 2025 celebrity series
Uncertain or Unverified
- Whether a 2025 celebrity edition will proceed
- Potential cast members for any future series
- Conflicting winner reports remain unsubstantiated
How Did Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins Originate?
The franchise originated with the civilian version produced by Minnow Films for Channel 4 in 2015. Based on the actual Special Air Service selection process used by the British Army, the programme films in challenging Welsh terrain to simulate combat environments.
The celebrity adaptation emerged in 2020 following the original’s success. The format maintains authenticity by employing former special forces personnel as instructors who design and supervise all training evolutions.
What Have Instructors Said About the Experience?
Instructors emphasize that the course tolerates no participants seeking merely “15 minutes of fame.”
— Staff philosophy reported via Radio Times
Key Facts About Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins represents a rigorous departure from standard reality television, operating since 2020 on Channel 4 with authentic special forces selection standards. The August 2024 series marked the most recent completion, with three winners from twelve starters. While the main civilian series continues accepting applications, SAS: Who Dares Wins past winners demonstrate the format’s consistency across both celebrity and civilian iterations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does filming last?
The civilian series runs 4–6 weeks, while the celebrity version compresses filming into a shorter schedule for its 6–8 episode runs.
Do celebrities receive payment for participating?
Available research does not specify payment terms for participants. The series focuses on charitable or personal challenge motivations rather than prize money.
Where exactly is the show filmed?
Production occurs in Wales, incorporating jungle phases and mountainous terrain to simulate authentic SAS selection environments.
How are winners determined?
Winners pass the course by meeting SAS standards throughout the final interrogation and physical tests, not by beating other contestants.
What does handing over your number mean?
Recruits voluntarily quit by handing over their identification number to instructors, signifying withdrawal from the selection process.
Can participants be removed against their will?
Yes. Staff may medically withdraw injured recruits or remove participants for ethical breaches, such as Harry Clark’s removal for deception in 2024.