A star-studded competition show is returning to screens after TV bosses made a sensational last-minute U-turn, much to the delight of fans.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins pits stars against the challenges of the special forces’ official selection course, in an intense two-week programme.
Contestants are not voted off, rather they are culled by officials when they begin struggling or they voluntarily withdraw when the going gets a bit too tough.
In the 2024 edition, Love Island star Georgia Harrison and professional boxer Lani Daniels went all the way after 13 of their fellow celebrities fell by the wayside.
Last summer it was reported that the celebrity version would return for a seventh series but, according to The Sun, Channel 4 chiefs agreed behind the scenes to can the show after the upcoming season, despite its persistent popularity.
That has now changed, with bosses at the station having a sudden change of heart after watching clips from the upcoming series.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is returning to screens after TV bosses made a sensational last-minute U-turn, much to the delight of fans
The show pits stars against the challenges of the special forces’ official selection course, in an intense two-week programme
A TV insider said: ‘Channel 4 never officially announced that Celebrity SAS had been dropped, but behind closed doors, they had decided not to bring it back — at least for the time being.
‘It’s an expensive show to make, as far as reality shows go, and budgets have been tightened.
‘They filmed a series in 2024, which will air later in 2025, and that was quietly considered to be the last one they would make.
‘However, it’s a beloved franchise and they have had a last-minute change of heart after doing the edit for the unaired series that’s in the can.’
The U-turn means that a 2026 edition, filmed later this year, will follow the upcoming season, which has already been filmed.
Only 13 celebrities across six gruelling series have proved themselves a match for the infamous SAS training scheme and bosses are now embarking on the hunt for the next batch of stars prepared to take on the wide range of challenges.
After last season’s dramatic finale, fans took to social media to heap praise on the intense Channel 4 reality programme.
One said: ‘Another absolutely fantastic series, well done to all who took part and especially the girls who passed the course. More episodes next year please!’
In the 2024 edition, Love Island star Georgia Harrison (pictured, in the cage) and professional boxer Lani Daniels went all the way after 13 of their fellow celebrities fell by the wayside
Shortly after the conclusion of the last season, successful celebrity Georgia reflected on a particular moment which she described as ‘sinister’
Another added: ‘Amazing series! Loved it! Congratulations on providing such gripping tv.. Well done to everyone involved… Not for the faint hearted.’
A third posted: ‘Loved this, I can’t wait for next year now.’
And another fan said: ‘Absolutely amazing program so sad it’s finished!! Think it’s one of best!! Make another one soon!!’
Shortly after the conclusion of the last season, successful celebrity Georgia reflected on a particular moment which she described as ‘sinister’ and which left her pal Olivia Attwood unable to watch.
The final task of the show saw the last four recruits tasked with memorising a cover story and hiding a fictional mission from a specialist interrogations team, while enduring questioning and punishment.
However, after being singled out as the ‘leader’, Georgia was brutally punished, with shock scenes seeing her locked in a dog cage and aggressively probed by staff while fellow contestant Bianca Gascoigne was forced to throw ice-cold water over her.
She told Loose Women: ‘So much of the final was like your mind wants to quit, it doesn’t understand why you’re doing this, everything in you just wants to say I’m done but you have to have the power to let that thought go and just sit in the discomfort of the situation you’re in.
‘That’s what yoga and meditation is, it’s letting your thoughts go and sitting in discomfort and getting more used to that and I really think that helped me so much throughout.’
