The hit reality series Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins stormed back onto Channel 4 on January 4, 2026, and wasted no time in delivering its trademark brand of extreme, unfiltered drama. This season, the show’s producers have upped the ante, pitting a team of UK celebrities against a squad of Australian icons for the first time—a move that’s already producing memorable moments and some rather unexpected challenges.
The premiere episode saw the contestants plunged straight into the deep end, both literally and figuratively. With black bags covering their heads, the stars were marched onto a bridge under the beating sun, disoriented and unable to see. The tension was palpable—and for one contestant, it proved a bit too much.
Within the first ten minutes, Olympic gold medallist and retired Australian freestyle swimmer Mack Horton found himself at the center of an awkward, very public mishap. As recounted by both Daily Star and The Sun, Horton lost control of his bladder during the nerve-wracking lineup. Chief instructor Mark 'Billy' Billingham didn’t miss a beat, quipping, “Pissing like a rhinoceros,” as a puddle formed beneath Horton’s feet. When the black bag was removed and Horton’s identity revealed, Billy looked him straight in the eye and said, “Oh dear,” before asking, “Who are you? What do you do, Mack, other than piss?” Horton, in good humor, replied, “Swimmer.”
Billingham, never one to let a moment slip by, continued the banter: “You look like you’ve got out of the pool. Was it hard work?” Horton simply responded, “It’s warm,” prompting Billy to grimace and fan the air, clearly not thrilled by the smell. According to Daily Star, Horton’s shorts, socks, and trainers were all soaked, and he was left standing in the searing heat covered in his own urine. In a later piece to camera, Horton reflected on his reaction, admitting he was most terrified of “the unknown.”
This raw, unfiltered incident set the tone for an episode that didn’t pull any punches. The show’s format, which already pushes contestants to their absolute limits, has become even more intense with the new UK-versus-Australia twist. The British team this year features a diverse lineup: Love Island winner Dani Dyer, fellow Love Island alum Gabby Allen, social media personalities Jack Joseph and Cole Anderson-James, rugby player Ben Cohen, Gladiator and Olympian Toby Olubi, and cricketer Graeme Swann. Representing Australia alongside Horton are Married At First Sight star Jessika Power, Neighbours actors Ryan Moloney and Natalie Bassingthwaite, cricketer Brad Hodge, Olympian swimmer Emily Seebohm, and Home and Away actor Axle Whitehead.
The pressure-cooker environment quickly claimed another victim. Dani Dyer, a self-professed superfan of the show, faced her own trial by water. In a harrowing challenge, Dyer was submerged underwater, tasked with navigating her way through a decrepit sunken vessel. The moment was tense: Dyer admitted, “I’m scared,” before taking the plunge. But within seconds, panic set in. Struggling to catch her breath, she flailed for her breathing apparatus and swam to the surface, apologizing repeatedly for cutting the challenge short. “I’m a massive fan of the show. I’ve always watched it and wondered if I could do it. I want to put myself to the test. I’m nuts, but I think I will be good at it,” she had said before filming began, as reported by Daily Star and The Sun.
Dyer’s candor about her mental struggles struck a chord with viewers. “I’ll be completely out of my comfort zone. I just hope that I will be able to stop listening to the voices in my head and just get to the end because that would make me so proud,” she shared ahead of the show’s airing. “I think physically I’ve got this. Mentally is what I’ll struggle with as my brain attacks me all the bloody time. I just want to believe in myself a little bit more and stop being a negative Nancy.”
This eighth series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins has been billed as the toughest yet, and it’s not hard to see why. The Channel 4 shake-up—pitting Brits against Aussies—has injected a new competitive edge, with both sides eager to prove their mettle. The choice of contestants from varied backgrounds, ranging from Olympians to reality TV stars and athletes, ensures that the challenges test not just physical endurance, but also mental fortitude and adaptability.
For viewers, the appeal of Celebrity SAS lies in its brutal honesty. There’s no room for ego or glamour when you’re standing in a pool of your own urine or gasping for air underwater. The show’s instructors, led by the ever-blunt Mark 'Billy' Billingham, are relentless in their pursuit of authenticity. Their approach is as much psychological as it is physical—designed to strip away the contestants’ public personas and expose their true selves.
What makes moments like Horton’s mishap or Dyer’s panic resonate is their vulnerability. These are public figures, used to being in control, suddenly thrust into situations where control is impossible. As the instructors remind them (and the audience), fear and embarrassment are part of the journey. The only way out is through.
Channel 4’s gamble on a UK-versus-Australia format seems to be paying off, at least in terms of early buzz and social media chatter. The mix of personalities, national pride, and the ever-present specter of humiliation makes for compelling television. And with the show airing Sundays at 9pm on Channel 4 and Channel 4 Streaming, fans on both sides of the globe are tuning in to see which team—and which individuals—will rise to the challenge.
As for Mack Horton and Dani Dyer, their rocky starts may prove to be just the beginning. If the first episode is any indication, this season promises more shocks, more heart, and a whole lot more grit. For now, viewers are left to wonder: who will crack next, and who will find the strength to endure?
With the bar set this high, and the pressure only mounting, it’s clear that Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is determined to keep audiences—and its celebrity contestants—on their toes.
