Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins UK vs Australia trailer previews high-stakes North Africa showdown

A first-look trailer for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins UK vs Australia previews a drama-filled showdown as celebrities face the franchise’s brutal challenges. The eighth series is set to premiere on Channel 4 on January 4 at 9 p.m., with 14 new celebrities from the United Kingdom and Australia taking on the most punishing challenge of their lives in North Africa.

The UK lineup includes Dani Dyer, Gabby Allen, Jack Joseph, Cole Anderson-James, Ben Cohen, Toby Olubi and Graeme Swann. The Australian participants are Jessika Power, Ryan Moloney, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Brad Hodge, Emily Seebohm, Mack Horton and Axle Whitehead.

In the trailer, Dani Dyer is shown breaking down in the interrogation room while Gabby Allen is heard screaming for help as she appears to be trapped underground during a challenge. Chief Instructor Billy Billingham MBE and his staff Foxy (Jason Fox), Rudy Reyes, and Chris Oliver return to push the group to its limits as the teams tackle a range of terrifying tests designed to test mental and physical stamina.

Eight one-hour episodes will air on Sundays and Mondays at 9 p.m. starting January 4 on Channel 4, with viewers able to stream the series or watch live as the UK and Australian recruits compete for national pride and the chance to emerge victorious amid a trial-by-fire format.

Channel 4’s press materials emphasize the pressure and intensity: the recruits are placed under extreme duress, every mistake is punished, every crack exploited, and weaknesses dragged into the open. Not everyone will have what it takes to reach the end as bonds snap, egos shatter, and competitors are pushed beyond their limits.

Dani, listed as recruit number four, said she has long been a fan of the show and wants to test herself, acknowledging she will be out of her comfort zone but aiming to prove she can push through the mental and physical barriers. The eighth series will feature 14 newcomers from both the UK and Australia seeking to outlast each other in a rivalry that adds a fresh dynamic to the format.

Fans learn more about the unique North African setting and the harsh conditions the participants will face. The DS team and instructors plan to combine the brutal terrain with their standard rigorous approach to corral the contestants toward the brink. The stakes are framed not only as individuals striving for personal achievement but also as a clash between two national groups under pressure.

A note of context from earlier reporting indicates the production previously signaled a shift in location for the new run, with Marrakech cited as a potential setting as producers looked to elevate the scale and look of the show. The decision to push the budget for a foreign location underscores the producers’ aim to deliver a visually dramatic season that reflects the country-to-country competition theme, while balancing safety and logistics.

Past participants across recent seasons have included notable names such as Troy Deeney, Michaella McCollum and Lucy Spraggan, who progressed through the course in earlier installments. The current eighth series builds on that legacy by pairing UK and Australian celebrities in a test that blends extreme physical tasks with intense psychological pressure, all under the guidance of the show’s veteran team.

As Channel 4 markets the new run, viewers can anticipate the signature moments that define Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins: tense interrogations, near-misses in dangerous training scenarios, and the emotional toll of pushing beyond perceived limits. The series’ arrival in early January marks a return to form for a format that has built a devoted following among reality-TV fans and documentary-style competition enthusiasts alike, offering a window into resilience, teamwork, and grit under extreme conditions.