A recruit on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins couldn’t take the gruelling conditions (Picture: Channel 4/Pete Dadds)
A contestant on Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins has reportedly quit after just 24 hours.
It’s been claimed dance star Louie Spence was left shocked at the gruelling conditions and tough training regime the ‘recruits’ are put through, and walked away from the competition.
The brutal reality programme, which last year saw the likes of former health secretary Matt Hancock, singer Gareth Gates, Olympic track and field athlete Perri Shakes-Drayton and Love Island star Teddy Soares, follows celebrities undertake military training and a series of nail-biting challenges.
According to reports, the tough mental and physical challenges proved to be too much for Louie, 55, who left after just 24 hours.
A source said: ‘He seemed thrilled to be surrounded by all the hunky instructors, who all came from military backgrounds that required them to have an elite level of fitness.
‘But he was less enamoured with the regime they had to maintain, with Louie unable to keep up with them physically and mentally.’
The insider added to The Sun: ‘Despite this he left without any bad feeling and was grateful for the opportunity — even though his experience was a brief one.’
The brutal reality show saw Matt Hancock and Jermaine Pennant last year (Picture: Channel 4/Pete Dadds)
Louie Spence reportedly walked away after just 24 hours (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
It’s claimed the upcoming series, which was filmed last year, includes Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and Towie’s Pete Wicks – both of whom are now set to appear on Strictly Come Dancing later this year.
Their inclusion in the BBC ballroom competition reportedly left Channel 4 bosses ‘fuming’, as the two shows are said to be returning in the same week.
This was Pete’s second shot at the gruelling SAS selection process after broken ribs forced him to quit the previous year.
‘Channel 4 were fuming when Pete was revealed as part of this year’s Strictly cast,’ a source told The Sun.
‘It’s the second time they’ve been screwed over by another reality show.
Pete Wicks is said to be on both Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins (again) (Picture: Pete Dadds/Channel 4)
Love Island star Tasha Ghouri is also reportedly taking part in both reality competitions (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
‘After Pete was knocked unconscious and broke his ribs in 2022’s series, his return to try and pass selection was a big deal and the first time [ex-Special Forces lead instructor] Billy Billingham and the directing staff have allowed a celeb to try out twice.’
The source added: ‘Bosses wanted his to be one of the main storylines on the show, a real redemption arc, but now they’ve been trumped by Strictly.’
They also said that ‘all plans for Pete to give interviews for SAS: WDW will be overtaken by Strictly and bosses are furious but there’s nothing they can do about it’.
The celebrity edition of SAS: Who Dares Wins is also said to be including Doctor Who star John Barrowman and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s sister Rachel Johnson, as well as Paul Gascoigne’s daughter Bianca Gascoigne and Geordie Shore’s Marnie Simpson.
Meanwhile, it was revealed last year that the civilian series of SAS: Who Dares Wins has been axed after eight series.
Metro.co.uk has approached Channel 4 and Louie Spence’s rep for comment.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins returns to Channel 4 later this year.
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