Celebrity SAS 2023 line-up: Full list of recruits

One of the most controversial participants this year is bound to be Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who is no stranger to reality TV, having already made a surprise appearance on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.0

The course will once again be run by the elite team of ex-Special Forces operators: Chief instructor Billy Billingham MBE and his team of directing staff, Foxy (Jason Fox), Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver. And much like every series, they do not care how famous any of the recruits are.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press ahead of the launch, the directing staff labelled contestant Hancock "hard work" and said they had their hands full putting him through his paces.

"We wanted to really get to know who he was, how he'd fallen and his decision making, and we pushed as far as we could to get it out of him. I wanted to know, we all wanted to know, I guess the nation does want to know. So we got as far as we could with him, but he was hard work," Billy said.

Here's everything you need to know about the sixteen celebrity recruits in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins season 5.

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 2023 line-up:

The sixteen contestants on the show are as follows:

• Danielle Lloyd
• James 'Arg' Argent
• Matt Hancock
• Gareth Gates
• Michelle Heaton
• Siva Kaneswaran
• Melinda Messenger
• Jermaine Pennant
• Gareth Thomas
• Montana Brown
• Teddy Soares
• Amber Turner
• Zoe Lyons
• Kirsty-Leigh Porter
• Perri Shakes-Drayton
• Jon-Allan Butterworth MBE

Read on for more details about the 2023 contestants.

Danielle Lloyd

Age: 39

Instagram: @missdlloyd

Twitter: @MissDLloyd

TV personality Danielle Lloyd is best known for taking part on Celebrity Big Brother, Total Wipeout, The Weakest Link and Splash!.

Lloyd described Celebrity SAS 2023 as "life-changing". "It's made me positive and ready to take on the world," she said.

James Argent

Age: 35

Instagram: @real_arg

Twitter: @RealJamesArgent

TOWIE star James Argent will be facing the SAS instructors for the 2023 celebrity season.

Argent rose to fame after joining the cast of The Only Way Is Essex back in 2010 and has since appeared on Sugar Free Farm, The Jump, Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity Coach Trip and The Real Dirty Dancing.

He said: "It's the type of show that pushes you to breaking point and it's something I'll never forget. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Matt Hancock

Age: 44

Instagram: @matthancockmp

Twitter: @MattHancock

Former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock is taking part in this year's Celebrity SAS after leaving his cabinet post in June 2021, making him the first MP to take part in the show.

Reflecting on his experience on the show, Hancock 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!"

Gareth Gates

Age: 39

Instagram: @gareth_gates

Twitter: @Gareth_Gates

Singer-songwriter Gareth Gates, who rose to fame after coming in second place on Pop Idol in 2002 is another recruit in Celebrity SAS 2023.

Since competing on the talent show, Gates has released three albums and starred in productions of Footloose, Legally Blonde and Les Miserables.

Revealing what his experience in the jungle was like, he said: "WOW, this was an experience like no other. I learnt very quickly that there is a difference between being gym fit and battle fit.

"I was so looking forward to doing this show, to test myself, to see what courage, grit and determination I really had. I would encourage anyone who wants one of the ultimate, physical and mental challenges to give this a go. It was an amazing, brutal, unique experience!"

Jermaine Pennant

Age: 40

Instagram: @jermaine7pennant

Twitter: @pennant83

Ex-footballer Jermaine Pennant is among the big names on Celebrity SAS 2023, with the pro having previously played for Arsenal, Birmingham City, Liverpool and Stoke City, among other teams.

Jermaine opted for Celeb SAS because he wanted to "push" himself to his "limits". He said: "You underestimate how brutal it actually is until your body's going through it!"

Jon-Allan Butterworth

Age: 37

Instagram: N/A

Twitter: N/A

Paralympic cyclist Jon-Allan Butterworth is one of the athletes taking part in Celebrity SAS this year

The athlete, who lost his left arm in a rocket attack whilst serving in the RAF in 2007, won a gold medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games, as well as the 2011, 2012 and 2016 Track World Championships.

Talking about his experience on the show, Jon-Allan said: "My Military career was cut short, so I wanted to see whether I have what it takes to survive in a world the DS think is normal."

Melinda Messenger

Age: 52

Instagram: @melinda.j.messenger_

Twitter: @melindamessnger

Former glamour model Melinda Messenger described her Celebrity SAS experience as "the most intensely physically challenging" thing she has ever done.

She added: "I would say it was surreal, but I'd also say it was way harder than it looks on TV!"

The TV presenter started her career as a Page Three model before moving into broadcasting, appearing on Eurotrash, Celebrity Big Brother, Loose Lips, All Star Family Fortunes, Dancing on Ice, Live from Studio Five and Richard Osman's House of Games.

Michelle Heaton

Age: 44

Instagram: @wonderwomanshel

Twitter: @wonderwomanshel

Singer Michelle Heaton is part of the 16 celebrity recruits on this year's SAS: Who Dares Wins.

Heaon is best known as a member of the pop group Liberty X. Over the years, she has also appeared on various reality TV and talent shows including Come Dine with Me, Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing on Ice.

She said: "I loved being on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins because it put me in situations that I would never put myself in normally. It got me to think outside the box. It got me uncomfortable. It's only then you learn where your real limits are."

Siva Kaneswaran

Age: 34

Instagram: @sivaofficial

Twitter: @SivaKaneswaran

The Wanted's Siva Kaneswaran has swapped the stage for the assault course and will be featuring on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 2023.

The Irish musician rose to fame as a member of The Wanted before winning Celebrity Hunted with bandmate Jay McGuinness.

He said of his SAS experience: "If you dig being tortured for a few days and being dragged out your comfort zone, then this is the show for you! In a weird way, it was very fulfilling in the sense that you face your fears and you come out of it a new person, a new improved person."

Teddy Soares

Age: 28

Instagram: @teddy_soares

Twitter: N/A

Teddy Soares is best known for competing on Love Island in 2021. He came in second place, alongside Faye Winter.

He said: "The whole experience was overwhelming, but for me, it was one of the experiences that I will never, ever be able to live down."

Gareth Thomas

Age: 49

Instagram: @gareththomasofficial

Twitter: @gareththomas14

Rugby player Gareth Thomas is another sportsperson competing in Celebrity SAS 2023.

Talking about his SAS experience, Thomas said: "There's not many experiences that allow you the opportunity to look inside yourself and see what you're truly made of. I just knew I had to say yes to this so I could work out who I really am, and it totally lived up to my expectations."

The Welsh former rugby player retired back in 2011 after winning four rugby league caps for Wales. He has since presented ITV Sport's coverage of the Rugby World Cup and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing on Ice, Get Your Act Together and The Jump.

Perri Shakes-Drayton

Age: 34

Instagram: @itspsd

Twitter: @shakesdrayton

Track and field athlete Perri Shakes-Drayton may have taken on Dancing on Ice, but she signed up for the even tougher challenge of Celebrity SAS.

She described her experience as "incredible from start to finish", and said she "loved every minute of it".

The 33-year-old specialised in the 400 metres hurdles and 400 metres, winning a gold at the World Indoor Championships in 2012and two at the 2013 European Indoor Championships.

Zoe Lyons

Age: 51

Instagram: @zoelyonscomedy

Twitter: @zoelyons

Comedian and TV presenter Zoe Lyons will be taking part in Celebrity SAS 2023. Lyons is best known for hosting former BBC show Lightning.

The comedian has appeared on Mock the Week, Micheal McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, The Wright Stuff and Channel 4's Stand Up and Deliver, while in 2020, she opened up about her alopecia diagnosis on Instagram.

Talking about her experience on the show, Lyons said: "It was the worst 'all-inclusive break' I've ever been on. There's a bit of me that feels incredibly fortunate that I got to participate in the show because it does test you, and there's quite a bit of fun to be had if you don't mind losing a few toenails!"

Amber Turner

Age: 30

Instagram: @amberturnerx

Twitter: N/A

TOWIE star Amber Turner is best known for appearing on the reality show, having joined back in 2016 – and now she'll be leaving Essex to take on the wrath of SAS instructors.

Turner said her experience on the show was "the hardest thing" she has ever done in her life.

"It was the most physically and emotionally demanding experience I've ever done but [it was] the best experience all in one. I loved every moment of it (except having that bag over my head) and wouldn't think twice about doing it again!"

Kirsty Leigh-Porter

Age: 34

Instagram: @kirststarburst

Twitter: N/A

Soap star Kirsty Leigh-Porter is one of the sixteen famous faces taking part in Celebrity SAS this year.

Soap fans will know Leigh-Porter best for playing Zoe Willson in Coronation Street, Roz Fielding in Emmerdale and most recently, Leela Lomax in Hollyoaks.

She said: "Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins was absolutely brutal but the most AMAZING experience and dare I say it, one I wish I could do again!! And the DS are actual real-life superheroes – the strength they hold is unnatural. They are absolutely amazing!"

Montana Brown

Age: 28

Instagram: @montanarosebrown1

Twitter: @MontanaRoseB

Montana Brown is another Love Island star who will be competing on Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins this year.

The reality star took part in the 2017 season of Love Island and has since appeared on CelebAbility, Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls, Celebrity Mastermind and This Morning.

Talking about her experience on the series, Brown said: "You don't get the opportunity to do something this hard in life so I couldn't say no. This was the hardest challenge I've ever experienced but I proved to myself that I'm actually quite tough and I can do anything I put my mind to."
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday 26 September at 9.30pm.
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