After emerging from a “challenging period as health secretary during the pandemic”, Matt Hancock said he wanted to push his limits on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The West Suffolk MP is part of the show’s biggest line-up with 16 famous faces, including the likes of Gareth Gates, Melinda Messenger and James Argent.
Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is returning to our TV screens on September 26 with seven 60-minute episodes.
The episodes will feature chief instructor Mark “Billy” Billingham and his directing staff Jason “Foxy” Fox, Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins to return to TV screens in September
Celebrities in this year’s line-up will be put through their paces in the jungle phase of SAS selection in Thung Ui, North Vietnam.
Mr Hancock is one of the recruits in this series. He was health secretary for almost three years but resigned in June 2021 after it emerged he had broken his own Covid-19 guidance by kissing and embracing aide Gina Coladangelo in his office.
He said: “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.”
“It’s safe to say the course tested my resilience,” the 44-year-old added.
His arrival turned heads, but his triumphant return from Trials kept Camp smiling. Matt Hancock is leaving the Jungle in third place 🧡 #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/Xx4YxX7Mbv
— I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) November 27, 2022
It’s not the first time that Hancock has featured in a celebrity TV programme though as he took part in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2022.
He came third on the show but his stint in the Australian jungle lost him the Tory whip and his appearance on the show was criticised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The 16 celebrities to face Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in new series
Fellow Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins recruit Gates, who found fame on TV talent show Pop Idol, described the show as “an experience like no other”.
“I learnt very quickly that there is a difference between being gym fit and battle fit,” the 39-year-old said.
While TV presenter Messenger, 52, said: “It was incredible, the most intensely physically challenging thing I’ve done”.
Former The Only Way Is Essex star Argent, 35, described it as: “The type of show that pushes you to breaking point.”
Singers Michelle Heaton and Siva Kaneswaran will also take part in the new series alongside TV Personality Danielle Lloyd, former footballer Jermaine Pennant and former rugby player Gareth Thomas, as well as reality stars Montana Brown, Teddy Soares and Amber Turner.
Mel B 'feels safe' with her fiance Rory McPhee
Comedian Zoe Lyons, actress Kirsty-Leigh Porter, British Olympian Perri Shakes-Drayton and Paralympic gold medallist Jon-Allan Butterworth will also feature in the upcoming series.
This series is the fifth celebrity version of the original SAS: Who Dares Wins which sees civilians put through military training exercises to test their physical and mental strength.
When does Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins return?
Fans of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins don't have long to wait for the new series.
It returns to Channel 4 on September 26 at 9.30pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here