We've been hooked on this year's series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins with the likes ofJames 'Arg' Argent, Danielle Lloyd, Matt Hancock and Montana Brown taking on the gruelling selection test in the jungle. Keeping them in check with some "firm but fair" words along the way is chief instructor Mark 'Billy' Billingham who has lifted the lid on some behind-the-show secrets.
The hit Channel 4 show kicked off on Tuesday, 26 September and already we've seen the celebrities take on some punishing jungle tasks in an attempt to pass the notoriously difficult SAS Selection test, pushing them both mentally and physically. Speaking exclusively to OK! chief instructor, Billy, 57 said the show really is as brutal as it's shown, from 24/7 filming, no rehearsals, banned phones and sleep deprivation.
'No script, no rehearsals'
Speaking to us about what happens behind the scenes, Billy said: "People turn up and there's a number of things that we're going to push you through, physical, mental, and emotions just like the ethos of the regiment, that's where it comes from.
"We build all these tasks and tests they have to do, which we all test anyway so it's safe and good to do, we do all the safety as we would in the regiment, we do it properly.
"Once we've done that, that is it – there's no script, no rehearsals, no retakes and it just runs.
Billy, who served on the frontline of the British Army for over 27 years, 17 of which were spent in the SAS added: "We don't know what the narrative is going to be or how people are going to react, we only see what's in front of us.
"The only big thing difference is that it's filmed 24 hours a day."
24/7 filming
Talking about their intense filming schedule of 24 hours a day, Billy said: "These people get pushed 17 to 18 hours a day and viewers only get to see 45 minutes of it.
"They really do get pushed, there's so much content, so what you see is not their day, they've had a long long day".
The decorated war hero went on to share that the "whole process is around two and a half to three weeks" as the celebrities have physical and medical tests beforehand. They then start filming continuously which Billy said can last "anything from 10 to 14 days depending on how many are on the course.
"It doesn't sound a lot but it's run and filmed 24 hours a day, and around 18 hours of those days they're working."
No 'downtime'
Speaking further about the gruelling days for the celebrities, Billy continued: "There ain't no downtime.
"The downtime is when they walk back into that accommodation which isn't very comfortable, that is your 'downtime' – they soon start to appreciate it".
When asked if the instructors have any downtime themselves, Billy explained: "No we don't. We've got the mirrored rooms we do all that and there's a part in the show where we sit down and discuss every single one of them.
"This takes place right at the very end of the night and that could be 20 to 40 minutes to discuss every single person. So you can imagine, they get about 18 hours and we're on it for around 20 hours and we're up early to get them up again.
"It's exhausting – but the difference is, the psychological difference, which is massive, we know what's coming, they don't." Billy went on to confirm that the instructors stay in similar accommodation to the celebrities "the only difference is that we might have an extra fan."
Sleep and food deprivation
The chief instructor continued: "Every day is more and more sleep and food deprivation. They're getting hungry, really tired, weak and injured – there's so much to it you don't see, but they do well.
"The idea is to push them as hard as you can to get them to that point like we would after six months in the SAS selection process – being absolutely exhausted.
"They're being pushed and they're on edge all the time because they have no idea what's coming next or when. They could be asleep for an hour and then we do something else with them."
He went on to share that away from their usual glamorous lives they're now "in this world, sleeping on a camp bed, laying naked next to someone they don't even know, having a poop with someone looking at you and not having a shower for three or four days."
Banned phones
During the days that the celebrities are taking part in the process, they're banned from using their mobile phones, which are taken off them on the "morning of the show".
"They're not allowed any contact at all", Billy explained before adding that of course, there is a system in place for emergencies.
"They're literally mic'd up, like we are, being recorded all the time, everything they say and do."
Instructors don't know who is on show
"We have no idea about their backstory because we're not allowed to, we have nothing to do with the production and involvement.
"So the first time we know who is on the show is when we pull the bag off their head and when they're stood in front of us."
Billy added: "To be honest, many or most celebrities we don't know anyway, so it doesn't make a massive difference." Before sharing that they might hear a "little rumour" about someone coming on the show but other than that the instructors have no idea who will be in their selection process and "treat everyone the same".
The SAS: Who Dares Wins star has recently embarked on his new 'Always A Little Further' tour to share his remarkable and inspirational story. The tour started on 2 October and will run until 30 November, with tickets still available at numerous locations.
You can find tickets for Billy's tour here which also includes a Q&A session.
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