05 November 2023 , 22:00
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The winner of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins was crowned on Sunday night, with a gobsmacked Gareth Gates triumphing over former Conservative MP Matt Hancock and ex-model Danielle Lloyd.
Sixteen celebrity recruits set out on a gruelling seven weeks challenge under the watchful and confrontational eyes of Chief Instructor, Billy Billingham MBE QCB and his team of Directing Staff (DS), Foxy (Jason Fox), Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver. They pushed the celebs to their limits to see who had the mental and physical strength and resilience to pass the course.
Three recruits remained, singer Gareth Gates, former health secretary Matt Hancock and TV personality Danielle Lloyd and at the end of the course, the DS lined the final three recruits up and Billy told them: “F***ing good effort. All of you. Now you chose to come on what is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most brutal course in the world. So stand proud.” He then announced: “ Congratulations, Number 7 (Gareth). You passed… this course.”
Singer Gareth Gates, former health secretary Matt Hancock and TV personality Danielle Lloyd, during filming of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins (PA)Gareth was shocked and with the news, responding: “Thank you, staff. Wow. Thank you.” Speaking after the show, Gareth admitted: "It was a really crazy experience. To hear the DS at the end, when Billy said, 'there's only one person we'd actually stand shoulder to shoulder with. And that's you number seven.' That was a really amazing feeling."
The former runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol in 2002 added: "I think winning, or, passing was amazing but being the only one really meant a lot to me. Realising that this is real for these DS, was really eye opening. We’re just here creating a TV show but this is what they've had to do for real. I just had huge respect for them, that they have to go through this for real whilst protecting our country."
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Gareth admitted that while he had prepared by going to the gym, it wasn't quite the same as actually experiencing the challenges that he faced during the course. He said: "There's a real difference between being gym fit and being battle fit. I've always been of the mindset that you should to train as much as you can but not being able to converse with people makes me feel very weak, so I never expected to be the only one to pass the whole course. That was the last thing I expected because of my insecurities. But to hear that has proved something to myself and I hope people who have any form of affliction at home watched that and think that if he can do it, then so can I!"
Gareth Gates has triumphed in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins (Channel 4)
Former MP Matt Hancock reached the final of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins (Channel 4)After the gruelling seven weeks, Gareth said that he was surprised how there wasn't ever a moment for himself as the show was always 'on'. He said: "It shocked me how fully immersive it is. I was expecting them to yell 'cut', and I thought there would be some downtime, a little bit of time to get my breath back up.
"But from the moment you arrive, to the moment you leave, the DS treat you like it's an actual selection process. And it's tough, they stretch you in every way. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and they really push you to your limits. I think that's what they were after - those who made it to the end, proved that as people, they are tougher on the inside than they are on the outside."
Speaking about his most traumatic moment on the Channel 4 show, Gareth admitted it was when he opened up about his childhood struggles. He said: "Talking about my traumatic experience as a child. I also really really struggled with my speech. That was the hardest thing but also think another thing that got me through as well." The singer said that he has come out of the experience a different person. He added: "Yes, hugely. It's definitely made me a much stronger person.
"And that fact that I passed, so effectively won the whole thing, proved to myself that I am strong and that I'm not that same, cowering young boy who used to hide in the corner. I have actually grown into a man now and I can handle anything."