Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins concluded last night with Lucy Spraggan, Troy Deeney and Michaella McCollum passing the process, though two other finalists didn’t get that far
One of the unsuccessful recruits from the latest series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins has opened up about their departure from the reality TV show. Bimini Bon-Boulash was culled from the process after having reached the final.
Bimini, 32, whose real name is Thomas Hibbitts, was a finalist on the Channel 4 show alongside the likes of Adam Collard, who voluntarily withdrew. Last night’s episode instead saw Michaella McCollum, Troy Deeney and Lucy Spraggan pass the gruelling process, unlike the other two finalists.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK runner-up Bimini was sent home shortly before the end of the experience after failing an interrogation task. The finalists had been given a cover story to present to the interrogators, and Michaella was later “punished” for saying that she couldn’t remember anything.
Bimini Bon-Boulash reached the final of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins but was culled from the process after failing an interrogation task(Image: CHANNEL 4)
Michaella was placed into a pit and co-star Bimini was told to pour cold water on her, in a bid to encourage her to speak out. Bimini however expressed discomfort, including that she would be “freezing,” and ended up disclosing details of their mission to interrogators, which ended the situation.
Following the scenes airing last night, Bimini took to Instagram to address their exit. The drag artist told their followers that they “can’t stand” seeing people be “bullied or hurt,” adding that they left with their head held high.
Bimini wrote: “I went onto @sas_whodareswins to give it everything/body, mind, and spirit. I pushed hard, I smiled through the chaos, and I stayed true to myself. In the end, what I failed on and would be seen as my weakness I would call my strength.
“I can’t stand aggression, violence, or seeing people bullied or hurt – it’s just not in me. I am gutted to not have passed selection, but I’m walking away with my head high and I’m SO PROUD of [the four other finalists on the show].”
The drag artist had expressed discomfort over pouring cold water on co-star Michaella McCollum and instead disclosed details of their mission(Image: CHANNEL 4)
In text written over photos from the episode, Bimini said: “SAS Who Dares Wins is over. I was gutted that I missed out on fully completing the course right at the final hurdle. But seeing someone I had grown so close with during the show (huge love to Michaela, super babe!) in this scenario didn’t sit well with me.
“But I’m still proud of everything I managed to achieve on the show. I passed the majority of challenges and stuck to my morals even under the most difficult situation. This gender bender make it to the finale of SAS Who Dares Wins! That is the biggest win for me.”
After struggling to pour cold water on Michaella and disclosing details of their mission to interrogators, Bimini was sent to see the umpire in the episode. The umpire said: “It is with regret, I’m informing you you have been unsuccessful on this phase of the course. In my professional opinion, you tried to protect somebody from unpleasant conduct, rather than any threat of physical damage or danger.”
Bimini was then praised by the instructors over their efforts throughout the experience. The contestant responded: “I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve had a really good time. I think I just misconstrued that last bit there. I just let the emotions get the better of me in that one minute.”
The latest series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is available to stream on Channel 4.
SIMON Cowell makes a surprise cameo in tonight’s penultimate episode of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The brutal Channel 4 series welcomed another 14 famous faces to tackle intense Special Forces training.
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Simon Cowell makes a surprise cameo on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares wins to support Lucy SpragganCredit: Rex
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Lucy has made it to the final five recruitsCredit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4
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Simon chats to Lucy on a video call as the recruits have their mental resilience tested
Along the way, celebrities have quit, been axed and – last week in the case of boxer Conor Benn – medically withdrawn.
Tonight, the remaining five recruits tackled one of their toughest challenges yet, before having their mental strength tested by having the option to receive calls from loved ones.
While Adam Collard receives his from fiancee Laura Woods, singer Lucy Spraggan is seen taking two calls.
And the first is from her X Factor boss, Simon.
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The 65-year-old appears on a video call to Lucy, who had appeared on The Factor in 2012, sitting outside in a sprawling garden.
“How’s my little trooper?” he asks, causing Lucy to chuckle.
She tells him: “It’s been a lot rougher than I anticipated. Simon, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Never one to mince his words, he replies: “You do look tired, I’m not going to lie.”
Lucy then quickly fills him on some of the challenges she’s faced, adding: “It’s not a joke Simon. It’s so, so real.
“Like, you know when you said you might think about doing it if I didn’t find it hard? You would not be doing it.”
Celebrity SAS star cries over her sexual assault
As she laughs, she adds: “Although I would pay such money to see you do it!”
Simon replies with a chuckle: “Just imagine it was me, and how long I would last.”
The pair have remained close in the years that followed Lucy being on The X Factor, and he even walked her down the aisle at her wedding to wife Emilia Smith earlier this year.
Lucy previously told The Sun: “He read a poem at our ceremony, which was cute, and he said to me, ‘I love seeing you this happy’.”
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 2025
S Club singer Hannah Spearitt
Dancer and TV star Louie Spence
Love Island star and podcaster Chloe Burrows
Love Island and Strictly star Tasha Ghouri
Former footballer Troy Deeney
Peru Two drug mule turned author and influencer Michealla McCollum
Rapper and ex-Loose Women star Lady Leshurr
Love Island lothario Adam Collard
TV & media personality Rebecca Loos
Ex Footballer Adebayo “The Beast” Akinfenwa
Drag Race UK winner Bimini Bon Boulash
Pro boxer Conor Benn
The X Factor star Lucy Spraggan
The Traitors winner Harry Clark
The newlyweds regularly stay with Simon and his partner Lauren Silverman at their homes in LA and the Cotswolds.
But Lucy admitted: “I speak to Lauren all the time, butSimonhasn’t got a phone so I speak to him when she’s on the phone!”
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Lucy fills Simon in on the tough challenges she’s faced
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 4, with all episodes available to plus members on Channel4.com.
Speaking to the Special Forces staff on the show, an emotional Adam explains how he was diagnosed with depression.
He struggles to get his words out before saying: “One of them was with my partner…and…we, erm lost something…when it was really close to getting there a second time and telling everyone.”
As the tears fall, the staff clarify that he’s talking about a miscarriage and Adam nods.
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He adds: “I think I was proud of the fact that I was excited for it, which I didn’t think I ever would be.
“And when it got taken away, and it was 10 times worse for her, I think it hit us like a tonne of bricks.
“We just really, really went to a bit of a bad place. And to be honest, in front of her I pretended I was cool, and pretended I was absolutely fine.”
Later in the episode, the tears flow again as the celebrities are tasked with reading out their ‘death letters’, which they were asked to write to their loved ones.
As Adam stands up to read his out, he pays tribute to Laura and how much he is thinking of her, before saying: “The last few months have been really tough, but nowhere near as tough as you.
Adam continues to read: “We lost a baby recently” but then starts to sob, as his co-stars look just as emotional, not knowing what he had been through until that moment.
Laura Woods gives birth to first child with Adam Collard as couple reveal sweet name in adorable post
He says: “I wish I had one more night to give you the world’s biggest cuddle. Love you always, Adam.”
Conor Benn then goes over to give Adam a cuddle, who sheds more tears as he is consoled over his loss.
In a piece to camera, Adam praised Laura, saying: “I’d say I’m pretty closed off as a person and she definitely helped me to open up.”
MISCARRIAGE is generally the death of an unborn baby in the first 24 weeks – approximately six months – of pregnancy.
Miscarriages may not be spoken about a lot but they are very common. Baby loss charity Tommy’s estimates there are at least 250,000 per year in the UK and that one in every five pregnancies ends in miscarriage.
It may not be clear why a miscarriage happens but they are rarely caused by anything done by the mother or father. Usually the embryo has a random genetic defect that means it cannot develop properly.
Most women can go on to successfully have healthy babies in the future.
The NHS says most miscarriages cannot be prevented but avoiding smoking, alcohol and drugs while pregnant can reduce the risk.
Some of the other most common reasons for a pregnancy to fail in the first 24 weeks are ectopic pregnancy and molar pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy is where a fertilised egg implants somewhere outside of the womb, usually in a fallopian tube. It cannot survive and grow there so either dies naturally or must be terminated.
Molar pregnancy is rarer but happens when a fertilised egg and/or placenta does not develop properly at the start of a pregnancy. There is no single reason why it happens and cannot be prevented, though it may be more common in very young or old mothers.
A baby who dies after 24 weeks is considered a stillbirth.
Source: NHS
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Adam is very emotional as he speaks about what they went through
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The couple welcomed son Leo in January following their previous heartacheCredit: Instagram
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 4 with all episodes available to plus members on Channel4.com
TRAITORS star Harry Clark has broken his silence after being booted off SAS: Who Dares Wins for cheating.
It was a humbling moment for the ex-Army lad, who has now admitted he “hated” his time on the Channel 4 show.
Directing staff Billy Billingham and Jason Fox caught Harry out performing only 10 burpee exercises when he’d been challenged to do 20 – then lied about it.
He was meant to complete the set before pulling a switch.
Harry said: “Obviously I was so disheartened and so annoyed, but at the same time in the back of my head I was like, ‘but it’s all right though because I’ve made that switch, I’m here to stay’.
“I did exactly what I would do in the military.
“And that’s what annoyed me so much because it was like I just hit that switch, but they’d kicked me off for it.
“So it was like, well then how can I prove to you now that I’ve changed?
“But then at the same time, when I look back on it and I’ve matured a lot now, they’ve probably done me a favour because I know that the next big stage was the interrogation phase.”
Joining Scott Mills live on air, he said: “I know that some of your listeners will know me from winning The Traitors, and I wanna know more about that next week but for now, for this Pause For Thought, I thought I’d tell you more about what makes me tick. So, I’m Harry, I’m 24, and I come from a massive family.
“There’s five of us children, I’ve got two brothers, two sisters and a mum and dad. Despite achieving something, I’m still just a normal kid from Slough who lives with his parents and sisters in a council house. Both of my brothers have now moved out. Luckily, thanks to my mum, religion has always been a big part of my life and has helped me all the way through.”
The Traitors winner recently left Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins just a few episodes into the new series (Image: Channel 4)
“Faith has been, and it means a lot to me always and it’s amazing to be a part of something bigger that is outside of myself. As soon as I could I decided I was off to North Yorkshire at the age of 16 to become an avionics technician, which is technically a helicopter engineer, which is easier to understand but it’s still just as crazy as it sounds. I’d never seen a helicopter before I left Slough, so becoming a helicopter engineer is the coolest thing ever.”
The engineer, who has also appeared on celebrity editions of The Weakest Link and Antiques Roadshowsince winning £90,000 on the hit BBC game show, recalled tough times when he was in the army and how he found solace in turning to God. He added: “My first real connection with Christianity though was when I went through a hard time in the army and being away from home. My mum said ‘Listen, Harry just try praying and do what you know,’ and that has saved me throughout my life. Suddenly, I didn’t feel alone and I managed to get myself out of the hole I’d dug myself into.
“I was asked to go on Traitors series two, which to my surprise, I actually managed to win somehow. Since then, it’s been a rollercoaster of ups and downs and around summertime again last year, I seemed to lose myself mentally but then the thing that saved me for a second time was my faith. When I prayed, I didn’t feel alone and I felt that there was something there for me just like there always has been.”
Harry also admitted that while he used to be a regular churchgoer, it is not something he needs to do on a weekly basis now and then Scott said: “It’s so good to have you as part of your Pause For Thought team and to hear a bit more about you,” and added: “I’ll see you next week!” as the segment came to an end.
Earlier this year, Harry turned down a reported £300,000 to appear on Celebrity Big Brother in favour of an appearance on the BBC Two show Pilgrimage instead, Speaking about the choices he made, Harry said: “I think it was just because it meant so much to me that I wanted to do this show. It was just me as a whole, and when my manager brought it to me, it was like, again, this whole career that we’re trying to carve out in this industry is one of authenticity.”
Harry, who is a practising Catholic, added: “It’s like, I want it to be authentic to me, and what means the most to me, and that’s religion, and that’s my family. Also I know it made my mum proud. But also for me personally, I knew that my religion itself had got a little bit cloudy.”
Harry, who is a practising Catholic, added: “It’s like, I want it to be authentic to me, and what means the most to me, and that’s religion, and that’s my family. Also I know it made my mum proud. But also for me personally, I knew that my religion itself had got a little bit cloudy.”
Continuing about his spirituality, Harry said: “It was always strong faith. I was always still praying, but then I never really knew… It’s easy to go off the rails a little bit and see, well, what am I even actually praying for?
“The pilgrimage was that sort of wipe where it made it a clear vision again.”
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins’ new series had already seen four contestants quit in the first two episodes but two more were shown leaving the process in the latest episode
Two more celebrities left the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in tonight’s episode(Image: Channel 4)
Another two contestants were seen leaving Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in the latest episode. One of them became the fifth celebrity to voluntary withdraw, whilst their co-star was axed from process by the chief instructor instead.
The Channel 4 show continued with the fourth episode of its new series, which launched earlier this month, this evening. It saw the remaining contestants face yet more challenges together in Wales, which is considered the home of the first phase of SAS Selection.
Four contestants had already left the experience in previous episodes. Another two were shown departing in tonight’s episode, with the first coming during a mission described as “one of the most physically demanding tasks yet”.
Former footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa, 43, became the fifth recruit to leave. He withdrew during the mission, which saw the contestants tasked with carrying an inflatable boat through “rugged, coastal terrain” in teams.
Adebayo said he was struggling with a pre-existing knee injury towards the end of the mission and decided to voluntarily withdraw. Amid struggling with carrying the boat and concerns that he wasn’t contributing as much as others, he said to his teammates: “I’m messing you up, f***!”
After assuring instructors Billy Billingham and Chris Oliver that he doesn’t cut corners, Harry was shown footage of himself doing only 11 burpees after being tasked with doing 20 earlier in the experience.
Harry was later brought in front of the other celebrities, with him admitting to them that he had “cut corners”. Billy said: “I asked you three times about honesty and integrity, and what did you do?” Harry replied: “I lied, staff.” The reality TV star was then asked to hand in his armband, with the instructor saying “now”. Billy then shouted moments later: “Now!” Harry then left, becoming the sixth departure.
The new series of Celebrity SAS, which launched earlier this month, has already seen four contestants voluntarily withdraw. Two quit in the first episode, followed by two more celebrities who walked away during the second episode.
Former S Club member Hannah Spearritt, 44, and dancer Louie Spence, 56, quit too in the first episode. Hannah withdrew amid a mission on the show, with her having said at the time: “Sorry – I’m done. Sorry. I’ve reached a point.”
Louie later quit following a subsequent task. Sharing that he wanted to leave the process, he said: “I wanna do an immediate withdrawal.” He added: “I just don’t have the conviction and I feel as though I’m not dedicated enough.”
Viewers then saw Love Island stars Chloe Burrows, 29, and Tasha Ghouri, 27, quit in the second episode. Chloe withdrew whilst trekking up a hill, on the way to a challenge set over a ravine. After struggling, and her complaints being met with frustration from an instructor, she declared: “I’m done, I’m done.”
Tasha made the same decision shortly afterwards during the same task in the episode. After falling behind some of the other contestants whilst on the trek up the hill, she said: “I’m not mentally here. I’m not mentally here to do this.”
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins continues on Sunday night from 9pm on Channel 4.
The second episode aired tonight and within minutes, a further two celebrities ripped off their arm bands and called it quits.
The stars were tasked with trekking up a hill, before taking on the challenge of hanging from a wire over a ravine.
However, Love Island star Chloe Burrows struggled on the climb, having already told her co-stars that she was finding the demands of the show difficult.
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As she was berated by the Special Forces staff for her moaning noises, she ripped off her arm band and told them between gasps for breath: “I can’t do it.”
The DS was furious and yelled: “Can’t do what? We’ve walked 300 metres up a f***ing hill!”
He then told Chloe she was “wasting a massive opportunity” but through her tears, she told him: “I’m done, I’m done.”
After handing over her arm band, she headed down the hill, chucking her water bottle before taking off her backpack and saying: “F*** off, this is the worst thing I have ever done in my whole life!”
But Chloe wasn’t alone for long, as within a minute she was joined by another former Love Islander.
The group continued climbing the hill, and the DS drilled number 5 – Tasha Ghouri – telling her to “dig deep” as she lagged behind.
Hannah Spearritt quits on day one of Celebrity SAS- Who Dares Wins
But an exhausted and struggling Tasha held up her arm band and told the shocked DS: “I’m not mentally here. I’m not mentally here to do this.”
After heading down the hill, the two women reunited and discussed their sudden exits from the course.
Tasha said: “You have to be so mentally strong to do this.”
Chloe replied: “And physically.”
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Hannah Spearritt (left) was the first to quit on Sunday’s episodeCredit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins continues Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4.
Celebrity SAS fans have been left reeling over one ‘celebrity’ as they claim the choice to have a convicted drug smuggler as a contestant on the show is ‘disgusting’
Michaella McCollum is one of the celebrities on this year’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins(Image: PA)
Michaella first made headlines as one half of the so-called Peru Two after she and Melissa Reid were arrested at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru, on 6 August 2013.
Fans have been left reeling over one ‘celebrity’ as they claim the choice to have Michaella McCollum as a contestant on the show is ‘disgusting’(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Last week, Michaella appeared on ITV’s This Morning and was met with criticism. Fans of the show took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts on the celebrity lineup. One person wrote: “The bookers for @thismorning #thismorning and #CelebritySAS should hang their heads in shame for booking a drugs mule. How on earth does that give them celebrity status!! And what message does it send to young people? Shocking.”
Another person penned: “Hey, @Channel4, how come this criminal is being allowed to profit from her drugs mule crime on the ‘celebrity’ edition of SAS Who Dares Wins?” While a third added: “#thismorning I don’t consider a convicted drug smuggler to be a celebrity, which is a fair enough reason for Michaella McCollum not to be a contestant on #CelebritySAS”.
Michaella first made headlines as one half of the so-called Peru Two(Image: PA)
Another unhappy fan wrote: “I’ve never missed a series, but I’m sitting this one out. Having a convicted drug smuggler classed as a celebrity is disgusting and sends the wrong message to young kids, plus it’s insulting to the others taking part.”
Ahead of appearing on the show, Michaella opened up on how she has changed and grown as a person. She said that signing up for the show was able to help her take back control of her life.
She told the Mirror: “I feel like in my younger days, I made lots of mistakes, so then I was really cautious of doing things, because I didn’t want to mess up again. I didn’t want to mess up, I didn’t want to make any more mistakes.
Ahead of appearing on the show, Michaella opened up on how she has changed and grown as a person(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
“But we can’t live life like that, because we’re always going to make mistakes, we’re always going to make bad choices, obviously not as bad a choice as I made previously, but it’s okay to make a mistake.
“I had got to the point where I was just refusing to do a lot of things because I was scared. What if I mess it up? What if I take this job and it doesn’t work out? What if I move to this place and it doesn’t work out? I was just a little bit afraid of making those decisions. I felt stuck. So I guess that was the main thing for me, to try and learn to overcome that.
“I was at the point in my life where I was just stuck in my comfort zone, and I thought this is a good way to break those barriers and do the things that scare me, and maybe that will help me in the future with decisions and just different things in life.”
Rebecca Loos candidly wiped away tears as she opened up on her infamous alleged affair with David Beckham as she made her debut on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
Rebecca Loos candidly discussed her alleged affair with David Beckham as she made her debut on Celebrity SAS(Image: Channel 4)
Rebecca Loos candidly wiped away tears as she discussed her alleged affair with David Beckham on the first episode of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. The model, 48, infamously claimed that she and football legend David, 50, had an affair in the early 2000s.
It was one of the biggest showbiz scandals of the time, and came about just a few years after he tied the knot with Victoria Beckham. And on Sunday night, viewers watched as the then-PA of the former Manchester United star broke down in tears as she addressed the whole thing during a tense interrogation scene.
Asked if she would do things differently, she said: “If I went back in time, yes, of course.” She added: “I was unhappy with the way I had been treated so I didn’t want to go around anymore carrying this secret, rumours started spreading.” It comes after Cruz Beckham ‘steals’ his dad’s tiny white trunks and family have epic response.
Rebecca was the PA of the former Manchester United star until their alleged affair catapulted her into the limelight(Image: FilmMagic)
She added: “I decided it would be better if it came from me, so I gave an interview thinking it would be something and it ended up being something else and I spent a few years seeing if I could get it back. I really put it really far behind me.”
Asked what she hoped to get out of the programme, Rebecca added : “I want to grow from this course as a person, I want to see how far I can push myself.” And then Rebecca seemed to have adopted a confident front, as she declared in a confessional: “I think I’ve definitely taken most of the blame for what happened, and rightly so. It was part of my life but we were two and he was all over me and he was my boss.”
But when mingling with her fellow recruits, she was seen breaking down in tears. It was then that former footballer Adebayo “The Beast” Akinfenwa rushed to put her arms around her as he spotted her wiping away tears. “You good?” he asked her and the two shared a hug.
Back in her confessional, she added: “You can’t change the things that have happened is my attitude. I just roll my sleeves up and get on with it because everything that I have experienced has brought me to where I am today and it has made me a little bit stronger.”
Rebecca, who has sons Magnus and Liam with her husband Sven Christjar Skaiaa, decided to sign up for the programme following a long break from the spotlight, as she explained: “I said yes to this because I felt that it was a really good time in my life to do this.
“I’d had a break from reality TV for a few years, become a mother, moved to Norway, changed quite a bit, and when I was younger I loved doing extreme things. I was finalist in Spanish Survivor where I was surviving on an island for three months in Honduras, and I’ve done quite a few extreme things, and adventurous shows. So I just felt like it would be really interesting to do.”
The drama began in 2003 after Beckham had just completed a high-profile move from Manchester United to Real Madrid, a career-defining transfer that promised fresh footballing glory in Spain. With the move came a new entourage, including 26-year-old Rebecca Loos, who was hired as a personal assistant to help the Beckhams settle into Spanish life.
In September that year, Beckham and Loos were photographed leaving a Madrid nightclub together. Whispers of an affair quickly began circulating, although both parties remained silent.
But everything changed in April 2004 when Loos sold her story in an exclusive interview with News of the World. She claimed that the pair had been romantically involved for four months.
Explaining why she chose to embark on the alleged fling, she said: “We just connected. People noticed it.” Explaining that the idea of group drinks back at the hotel were floated after a night out, she claimed David told her: “Why don’t we just lose the rest and why don’t we just go back together?”
“I gave him a look I was very surprised, very taken aback. I said, ‘**** off’ in a joking manner. But there was a look and he was still looking at me and I was looking at him. I think one of the girls we were with came up and sat between us. I think the chemistry between David and I was so strong.
Admitting she knew he was a married man and that she was worried about jeopardising her job, she shared her reason for agreeing. “I think the chemistry between David and I was so strong and people were not happy because I was being very unprofessional and he’s a married man.
“Then it dawned on me what he had asked me and I decided I did want to go back with him so we gave each other a look and paid the bill and left.
“I couldn’t wait to be alone with him and I knew he felt the same. We dropped off the other two people in the car and starting kissing quite passionately all the way back to the hotel… It was like magnets, pretty amazing.”
Michaella McCollum has finally found television success with Celeb SAS and has successfully turned her life around since her days as one of the infamous Peru Two
21:00, 02 Aug 2025Updated 21:07, 02 Aug 2025
Michaella McCollum first became known to the public as part of the Peru Two more than a decade ago but now she’s starring on Celeb SAS (Image: Pete Dadds / Channel 4)
It’s been a bumpy road to television success for Celeb SAS star Michaella McCollum, who first became known to the public as part of the Peru Two more than a decade ago. At just 19 years old, she and Melissa Reid were caught and arrested at Lima airport, Peru.
The duo had tried to conceal the drugs in sachets of porridge and jelly, in the hopes of disguising the smell, but she has completely turned her life around since those dark days. The 31-year-old, who is a native of Dungannon in Northern Ireland, was initially sentenced to six years and eight months behind bars for her crime and was detained at the notorious Ancon 2.
But in early 2016, she applied for parole and was eventually released on the provision of residing in Peru for up to six years, although she was able to return home that April. Now, she’s set to open up about her ordeal Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins – and it comes after news that Rebecca Loos faces brutal Beckham grilling on Celebrity SAS over ‘mistakes’.
Michaella McCollum joins several stars on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins(Image: Pete Dadds / Channel 4)
She’s set to be put through her paces from the outset, with one of her first tasks being labelled an “epic fail” by one of the commanders. Before her stint on SAS, Michaella made headlines as part of the Peru Two over 12 years ago.
In 2013, Michaella had enjoyed a holiday in Ibiza and opted to stay longer while she sought bar work. Eventually, she accepted an offer to carry 11kg of cocaine – worth £1.5 million – out of the country but, along with her accomplice, was caught at Jorge Chávez International Airport.
Michaella confessed to being under the influence of drugs before committing her crime, as she told Good Morning Britain earlier this year. She explained: “I went to Ibiza when I was 19, it was the first time I’d left the UK, it was my first holiday there. I had no friends, I went completely alone and I didn’t know anybody.
“Within two weeks, I started making friendships and relationships’, I made a friendship with a group of people who ended up luring me into trafficking drugs. The initial friendship, everybody in Ibiza at that time, was consuming a lot of drugs. I, as well, was consuming a lot of drugs and drinking a lot of alcohol.”
Explaining that her young age allowed her to be ‘manipulated’ into the situation, she added: “I had this safe group of people who didn’t take drugs or drink alcohol so I was inclined to spend time with them. They were good people, they didn’t do anything, they didn’t party. That’s what they do, these organisations, they have people who are pickers. Their job is mainly to pick people to become mules, and they target your vulnerabilities. Your vulnerability might be your age, at 19 or 20, you’re incredibly naïve and easy to manipulate.”
She believed the people she was spending time with were safe because they didn’t drink or take drugs. This led to her “trusting them” and thinking they were “good people” because they “didn’t party”, which helped them to “lure” her into becoming a drug trafficker.
At the time, members of Michaella’s family thought she had gone missing on the Spanish island and flooded social media with pleas for her information of her whereabouts but it later emerged that she had been caught smuggling drugs. She and Melissa became known as the Peru Two as their story became known around the world.
The pair initially claimed that they had been coerced into going through with the plan by a gang, however they both pleaded guilty to drug smuggling and were sentenced to over six years’ imprisonment in the Ancon 2 jail. During her time in Ancon, Michaella took up a place on a beauty therapy course and began training to be a hairdresser. What’s more, she also taught herself Spanish in under a year to give herself a better chance of survival in prison.
Michaella was granted parole on March 31, 2016, after serving half of her sentence. Her friend Melissa was also freed that same year, on June 21, after Peruvian authorities agreed to “expel” her from the country. While Melissa has chosen to stay out of the public eye, Melissa has spent the last decade carving out a successful career as an author, public speaker and appeared in her own Netflix series detailing the events of her past.
Michaella became known for sporting her hair in a large bun when she first appeared in the media but now sports long blonde locks (Image: Mirror Screen Grab)
In 2019, she published her memoir You’ll Never See Daylight Again, and, at the time, she hit back at critics who suggested she would be making a lot of money from the book deal. She told Lorraine during an appearance on her eponymous chat show: “My family have got themselves into so much debt from this whole process. If I do make money from this, my intentions were never, I was never driven to make money from this, but if I do make some money, then my family would be my priority. Obviously, if I do get a bit extra, then I’d like to help them give back in a way.”
But Michaella came under fire from Piers Morgan during an appearance on Good Morning Britain to promote her book, where the broadcaster accused her of profiting from her own crime. Piers refused to accept her statement that she was using the book to raise awareness and prevent others from making her mistakes.
In fact he believed she must have been hoping for some financial gain, before hitting out at her for suggesting media portrayal of her at the time of the incident wasn’t fair. He also didn’t appear to believe her claims over being naïve when she carried the drugs aged 20.
Michaella McCollum has been wowing fans with her holiday snaps(Image: michaella_mccollum/Instagram)
These days, Michaella, who is also a single mother-of-two to twin boys, has become a successful Instagram influencer and boasts more than 100,000 followers on Instagram. Just last month, she impressed followers with two “stunning” photos captured on holiday at a beautiful location.
And fans were quick to rush to the comments section to not only compliment her on her appearance, but also on her journey over the last 12 years. One person said: “Just finished your audiobook! Found it to be an inspirational read, quite heartwarming actually, which wasn’t expected.
“Your honesty about the situation came across really well. Well done and good luck with your future endeavours”. Another added: “Stunning photos and you look absolutely gorgeous in that dress”.
Opening up about why she chose to accept the offer to star on television’s toughest reality series, she said: “I was hesitant at the start. And then I thought, you know what, when in life are you going to be faced with those types of challenges? You’re not! I was at the point in my life where I was just stuck in my comfort zone, and I thought this is a good way to break those barriers and do the things that scare me, and maybe that will help me in the future with decisions and just different things in life. I need to be okay with taking risks and stepping outside of my comfort zone. So I thought, for me personally, it would be a good challenge to test myself. So that was the main reason.”
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins returns next week for its latest series on Channel 4 and among the line-up for the TV show is former S Club member Hannah Spearritt
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins returns next month for its new series(Image: Channel 4)
One of the celebrity contestants on the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, which launches next week, reportedly dropped out just hours into the experience. The news comes after the line-up was announced last week.
Fourteen celebrities were enlisted for the Channel 4 show’s latest series, which was filmed in Wales. It’s teased that the contestants will take part in “the most gruelling phase” of Special Forces selection over the eight episodes, with the upcoming series set to launch next weekend.
It’s now been reported this week that Hannah’s experience on Celebrity SAS proved to be the “final straw” before she moved abroad. It’s claimed that she quit on the first day after hoping it would “turn things around for her”.
Hannah Spearritt is said to have dropped out of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins on the first day(Image: Channel 4)
A source told the Daily Mail that Hannah had “pretty much exhausted” her connections in the industry before her move to Costa Rica. They said that she no longer speaks to her bandmates and has “shut herself off” from the industry.
They added that the “final straw” came when she took part in Celebrity SAS. The source told the outlet: “Hannah truly believed that a stint on one of the hardest and most gruelling shows could turn things around for her.”
However, it’s claimed that Hannah struggled with the experience on the reality TV show. The source said: “But sadly she just couldn’t hack it and walked on the first day.” They then concluded by saying: “It was all rather embarrassing.”
She spoke about her hopes for the show in a statement released by Channel 4 last week when the line-up was announced. She said: “I hope to take out of this experience, strength. I want to feel stronger again, mentally and physically, because there’s always improvement there.”
She took part in the Channel 4 show prior to relocating to Costa Rica(Image: hannahspearrit/Instagram)
Hannah, who has two children, added: “There are always dips that happen along the way with motherhood or whatever but I think when you just experience different stuff, it changes you. I have no idea what to expect, but I do know it will be an experience and it’s something that I will have for life.”
She said: “However the experience goes, I am going to learn about myself. Maybe I’ll find out I am a bit of a mess or I might find out that I’m stronger than I think I am … it’s finding out things about yourself that you would never, ever find out. We live in this world where it’s so easy to live in our comfort zone, so this is an opportunity to get outside of that and … for me anyway, growth and expansion is one of the most important things, and that is something that hopefully I can pass on to my kids.”
Since taking part in the show, Hannah has relocated to Costa Rica with her husband Adam Thomas and their two children. Earlier this year, she teased that she was embracing a “new beginning” after having left the UK just months prior.
She’s shared updates from her new life abroad with her family in recent months(Image: hannahspearrit/Instagram)
Hannah confirmed in January that she had arrived at her new home, writing: “Well … we finally made it to paradise. Beautiful country, beautiful people.” She’s continued to share updates since then and her bio on Instagram reads: “Prepper, survivalist and creator now living the uninhibited jungle life.”
In one of her first posts after relocating, which was shared in February, Hannah said that the area had helped her “recover from a challenging year”. She made the comment alongside photos including one of her beside her kids on a walk.
She wrote in the caption: “Morning walks down to the waterfall… trying to keep up with the little legs! I’m putting together a little reel of this magical place that has really helped me recover from a challenging year and I’ll put the link in with it so you can enjoy it too if u like.”
From August 3, the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins can be streamed or watched live every Sunday and Monday from 9pm on Channel 4.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is back and bosses have now confirmed the full line-up, including a member of the Peru Two drugs smuggling group and Rebecca Loos
The Celeb SAS 14 include stars from music, entertainment and sport(Image: Pete Dadds / Channel 4)
Celebrities from the world of music, entertainment and sport have lined up to take part in the most gruelling phase of Special Forces selection whilst being filmed so millions of people can watch from the comfort of their sofas.
Channel 4 bosses have chosen a wide selection of stars from football, reality TV and even a woman made famous as one of the ‘Peru Two’ drug smugglers for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. Michaella McCollum will line up alongside other star names like Rebecca Loos, who had a rumoured fling with David Beckham as well as former Premier League footballer Troy Deeney.
The Seventh series will see the action play out over eight one-hour episodes as the 14 celebrities are put through their paces by an elite team of ex-Special Forces soldiers – Chief Instructor Billy Billingham and his team of Directing Staff (DS) – Foxy (Jason Fox), Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver. They take the famous faces to Wales, the home of the first phase of SAS Selection, where they will be stripped of their home comforts, families, agents and social media.
This year’s course will be physically demanding and psychologically gruelling; all but a few who take part will fail, but the question is who will make it to the end and eventually pass?
Commenting on this year’s group of celebrity recruits, Chief Instructor, Billy said: “This course is not an attendance course, the bar is set high and will not waiver. Every recruit is a volunteer who chose to step into our arena. Although many will start, very few will finish and even less will pass. This is not for the weak minded or faint hearted.”
DS Foxy said: “The world is now a complex and dangerous place with threats coming from all angles. Because of that, we as a country need to be ready. We want to show these celebrity recruits what it takes to prepare for war, but do they have what it takes, far away from their privileged lives?”
DS Rudy commented: “SAS: Who Dares Wins is brutal, revealing and a testament to human perseverance. Punishing elements, relentless pace, and standards that make war fighters proud to give these recruits a hard reset to find their true self. And in that truth, an insight into the human experience for us all.”
DS Chris added: “This isn’t just about physical strength; it’s about mental resilience too. The recruits will be pushed to their limits, both individually and as a unit. Trust in each other will be our greatest asset. When the waves are high and the wind is howling, they will need to rely on the training and instincts if they are going to succeed.”
Adebayo “The Beast” Akinfenwa
The Beast getting reading to take on the SAS challenges(Image: Channel 4)
Age: 43
Famous for: Former Wycombe footballer
What they say about challenge: “I’ve asked myself time and time again – am I built for the Special Forces? One of the reasons why I’m doing this is to find out. I would like to think that, put me in most situations, most environments, I’ll be able to put my best foot forward, get out of my comfort zone, hit my responsibilities and do what I need to do! I think that’s what I want to get out of taking part on this course.”
Troy Deeney
Footballer Troy has joined the line-up(Image: Channel 4)
What they say about challenge: “I’m at a crossroads in my life, so I’m hoping the course can highlight the good and bad in me, and hopefully we’ll see at the end that the good outweighs the bad. I’m sure the DS will get me irritated very quickly but they will also know how to nurture and to reshape and probably help me along the way.”
Conor Benn
Conor admits the show will be very different to his day job(Image: Getty Images for AELTC)
What he says about the challenge: “Although boxing is hard, I feel like this is going to be a completely different challenge, and I always want to challenge myself. I just want to see and experience the toughness and the grittiness you need to pass this course.”
Louie Spence
Louie is hoping to challenge himself
Age: 56
Famous for: Dancer, choreographer and television presenter
What they say about challenge: “This course I hope can walk away feeling I’ve actually really achieved something here, that I’ve really pushed myself to the edge of my boundaries and put myself in a position which is beyond something I could have even imagined a year ago. This is a course that is really going to challenge me. This is different to anything I’ve ever been part of before. There’s no fluff, there’s no glitter, there’s no getting myself out of a situation with a quick bit of wit. It’s really refreshing for me to do something like this…and, hopefully, come out a much better person, both physically and mentally.”
Tasha Ghouri
The Love Island star is ‘excited’(Image: PA)
Age: 26
Famous for: TV star
What Tasha says about challenge: “I’m very excited to actually take on the course and just go for it, push myself and really challenge myself. But I also want to show people that having a disability makes you no less able – we can also push ourselves, and do crazy challenges if we put our mind to it.
“I really want to be able to actually walk away from the course feeling like I’ve accomplished what I wanted to do and I want to look back and think, wow, I did that, I’m proud of myself. I’ll be doing this for the people who have doubted me. I want prove to them that they can’t bring me down. I can fight my way to the end.”
Harry Clark
Former military man Harry was inspired by the SAS(Image: Channel 4)
Age: 24
Famous for: Winner of season two of Traitors
What they say about challenge: “Growing up, I’d watch people close to me be in the SAS, which always inspired me. This show was a different experience to what I had imagined but I always love a challenge and it proves you’re always learning new things about yourself.”
Hannah Spearritt
Singer Hannah wants to gain ‘strength’ from her experience
Age: 44
Famous for: S Club 7 star
What they say about challenge: “I hope to take out of this experience, strength. I want to feel stronger again, mentally and physically, because there’s always improvement there. There are always dips that happen along the way with motherhood or whatever but I think when you just experience different stuff, it changes you. I have no idea what to expect, but I do know it will be an experience and it’s something that I will have for life.
“However the experience goes, I am going to learn about myself. Maybe I’ll find out I am a bit of a mess or I might find out that I’m stronger than I think I am…it’s finding out things about yourself that you would never, ever find out. We live in this world where it’s so easy to live in our comfort zone, so this is an opportunity to get outside of that and…for me anyway, growth and expansion is one of the most important things, and that is something that hopefully I can pass on to my kids.”
Rebecca Loos
The show represents a TV comeback for Rebecca who did reality show The Farm in 2004(Image: Channel 4)
Age: 48
Famous for: Yoga teacher who had a rumoured fling with David Beckham
What they say about challenge: “I honestly don’t know whether I am mentally strong enough but one of the reasons I want to do this course is because I want to find out whether I’m able to stick it through mentally. I think it’s going to be really, really tough. This is by far the toughest thing I’ve ever done. But I want to do this course because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to do an SAS training course. It’s going to be really interesting to see how far I can go and how strong I’m able to keep myself.”
Bimini
Bimini is hoping to prove they can do anything(Image: Channel 4)
Age:
Famous for: Drag queen and DJ
What they say about challenge: “I want to do this just to prove to myself that I’m capable of anything I put my mind to. I want to prove to myself that I can do it. No glam, no red carpets, no magazine covers. This is literally just going to be me to my core and I am excited about it but I don’t think the course is ready for Bimini.
“People in the UK love to debate gender like it’s a concept, not a lived experience. It gets reduced to headlines and toilet talk. I’m doing this to remind them that behind every opinion is a human being. The course, the SAS and the Army have got a very masculine stereotype and I’ve got both elements of masculine and feminine and that’s my superpower. Vulnerable, raw, and stronger than ever. This bleached rat tail is gonna f**k it up!”
Michaella McCollum
Michaella McCollum was one of the Peru Two(Image: Pete Dadds / Channel 4)
Age: 31
Famous for: One of the Peru Two drug mules
What they say about challenge: “The level of resilience I learned from being in prison in Peru and knowing how important that mindset is, will definitely help get me through the course, so I’m going to need to use my mental strength to help me along the way. In Peru, I was completely stripped back to the rawest version of myself…and I know in this course, it will have a similar effect. I will get to see the real me again and I want to challenge myself to see how capable I am. I don’t know if I’m physically fit enough to complete the course but I have good mental strength.”
What they say about challenge: “I hope I have the mental grit to get to the end of the course. I have been through quite a lot in my life, and I’ve done a lot of work to navigate what that left behind, and I really hope that I can apply it to the course, and make it all the way to the end.
“I’ve always wanted to do this course, and what I love about this course is the sheer pressure it puts on a human being, that you will just not get anywhere else in life. And I’ve had pressure, I’ve had so many forms of pressure, nothing like this, so I really just genuinely want to see how far my brain can go.”
Adam admits he loves a challenge(Image: Channel 4)
Age: 29
Famous for: Fitness coach and Love Islander
What they say about challenge: “Hopefully during the course, the DS will peel back a few layers because I’m stubborn as hell. And maybe I need to be broken down to then go and sort some stuff out.
“I’m doing it for the little boy who hated himself and couldn’t do anything and was the last to get picked in everything. And from an emotional point of view, I’m hoping that this spits out a better person.
“I love a challenge. And I really think this course is exactly what I want to really tap into my fitness, the mental strength, the resilience, and see if I’ve got the grit to finish and go all the way.”
Lady Leshurr
Lady Leshurr hopes to feel empowered(Image: Channel 4)
Age: 37
Famous for: Rapper
What they say about challenge: “I think this course is not only going to make me become the best version of myself, but it’s going to make me the strongest I’ve ever been. It’s going to make me realise so much about myself that I’ve kept in. It’s going to push, motivate and inspire me. It’s really going to make or break me. But regardless, it’s going to teach me a lesson about myself that I can definitely work on.”
“Doing this course is going to make me regain my strength, my understanding, who I am as a person and just unpack all the trauma that is on my chest…I’m hoping to leave this course feeling empowered, feeling the strongest I’ve ever felt, a beast. I want to walk into the gym the next day, like I own this place.”
Chloe Burrows
Chloe learnt a lot about herself(Image: Channel 4)
What they say about challenge: “On SAS: Who Dares Wins , everything is completely stripped back. You have absolutely nothing. And I want the course to kind of remind me of that, because I’ve got a bit lost in myself and the industry. I want to feel a little bit grounded. I want to get a sense of it. I want to push myself, and I want to get a sense of achievement. I want to feel proud of myself for whatever I put into it.
“I think the course is going to give me a bit of confidence. If I even achieve half of the course, then I can walk out and be like, yeah, guess what? I did that on my own. No makeup, no hot shower. I’m very capable…I would love to come out and just feel really pleased with myself and really confident in myself. I want to feel like I’ve tried my absolute hardest and that I had nothing left in the tank…I don’t want to leave half-heartedly. If I leave, it’s because I physically cannot do anymore, which is fair, but I just want to know that I’ve tried my hardest.”
* Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins can be streamed or watched live every Sunday and Monday from 9pm on Channel 4, starting on 3 August.
A major soap star had been looking forward to putting themselves through challenges as a contestant on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins – only to be forced out of the competition before it even began
10:30, 13 Jul 2025Updated 10:31, 13 Jul 2025
A major star has been forced to quit Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins(Image: PA)
Famous stars have been known to suffer injury while competing on Channel 4’s brutal reality show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and forced to drop out of the contest. But now one star may have achieved a first for the long-running reality show – by being forced out of the show before they even made it to filming.
Soap icon Patsy Kensit was due to take part in the upcoming new season of the show. However, it appears her training in advance of the physical duration show left her too injured to take part.
Patsy, 57 – famous for playing Sadie King in Emmerdale and Emma Harding in EastEnders – had been taking her involvement in the show seriously and hitting the gym hard in order to get herself prepared for the trials that she would face on the show. Who Dares Wins sees contestants endure physical and psychological tests that the armed forced would experience in order to prove their mettle and determination.
But now it has been revealed that Patsy was sent home when she turned up to take part in the new filming as she had injured herself ahead of the cameras starting to roll. A source has explained that showmakers ordered the actress to return home to avoid any risk of further injury.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Patsy had been running at pace on a treadmill while wearing a weighted backpack filled with books and weights as part of her intense training regime. The added weight caused her to lose balance and fall backwards off the machine, bruising her arm and shoulder in the process.”
Patsy Kensit broke her arm – forcing her out of the show(Image: Getty Images)
The source added: “She even flew out to Morocco, where the filming was taking place, but production soon spotted the injury and she was sent home.”
The Mirror has contacted representatives of Channel 4 for comment, while a spokesperson for Patsy said: “The production company Minow who make Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins, were amazing the way they looked after Patsy. Their duty of care was second to none and very impressive. Patsy is on the mend and will of course make a full recovery.”
Earlier this month, Patsy was spotted with her arm in a sling while she attended a gala performance of the Faulty Towers theatre show in London’s West End.
Asked about her injury at the time, the star revealed: “I broke my shoulder in 3 places 3 weeks ago!!! I’m healing and a slight boogie with my besties I’m staying with this week will be a tonic for sure …”
The soap icon has been managing to enjoy herself despite her injury(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
While the star has been enjoying nights out despite her injury, there is one event she has made clear she won’t attend – the Oasis reunion tour dates.
Patsy was married to singer Liam Gallagher, 52, from 1997 until 2000 and they share 25-year-old son Lennon Gallagher together. Appearing on Good Morning Britain recently, Patsty revealed she was pleased to see her ex back on tour as Oasis and that her son would have the chance to see his dad perform with the iconic band – who famously split in 2009.
She told the ITV show: “My 24-year-old son, he’ll be there and he’ll have a lovely time. Great for him to see all of that and I’m happy for his dad, I think it’s a wonderful thing. But I won’t be attending.”
Oasis kicked off their Live ’25 Tour in Cardiff, Wales, earlier this month and this weekend they have been thrilling fans in their native Manchester. Liam and older brother Noel Gallagher, 58, have been singing to 80,000 strong crowds at Heaton Park where they belted out 23 of thier biggest hits.
The brothers – who shocked fans last year by announcing they had buried the hatchet to reform their group and hit the road again – will be on tour until late November. They have 41 dates set over the coming months – with the climax of the tour set to take place on 23 November in Brazil.
The tour has won rave reveiws from fans and critics alike. The Mirror’s Daniel Bird said: “Walking out at Heaton Park, you could never have imagined that there was once a feud between the two siblings. Putting on a united front, the two legends walked out to their 2000 track, F***in’ In The Bushes, to a crowd of 80,000 people, with the atmosphere instantly becoming electric.”
