FOR the first time in its history, the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins will have more BAME contestants than white.
Loose Women’s Saira Khan, former footballer Kieron Dyer and Love Island’s Wes Nelson will pull their kit on alongside singer Alexandra Burke and TV presenter Ore Oduba.
They are joining Olympian James Cracknell and telly stars Ulrika Jonsson, Jake Quickenden and Vicky Pattison on the toughest show on the box.
An insider said: “Channel 4 is making sure all of the shows it airs reflect modern Britain and SAS is no different.
“They think they’ve cast one of the best series of SAS yet, as all the names are impressive and there is a real mix of characters.
“Kieron, Jake, Wes and James are all very physically fit but, mentally, you have stars like Vicky who is a tough cookie and won’t crack easily under pressure.
“They’re all currently in isolation in a hotel to ensure they’re totally Covid-safe before filming commences.”
The show will air in the new year. In August, HOAR revealed that SAS’s shake-up led to trainer Ollie Ollerton being axed to make way for a more diverse cast.
At the time, Ollie — who hosted the show alongside Ant Middleton since it started in 2015 — said: “I’d rather have left after doing something wrong, as at least I would have understood it.”
I can understand Ollie is upset at feeling forced out of a job he loved. But at the same time, the TV industry was in need of a big shake-up.
And it has been far too long coming.
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Seek cheek
SIMON Pegg is joined by daughter Matilda on his new Amazon Prime comedy Truth Seekers, which follows a team of paranormal investigators as they attempt to uncover ghost sightings across the UK.
The 11-year-old is seen giving the finger to Nick Frost’s character Gus at the Coventry Collectibles And Cosplay Convention in these exclusive pics.
The gang head to the event in a bid to meet their heroes and show off their costumes, but stumble across something much more sinister.
Simon plays Dave in the series, which is out on October 30 and also stars Samson Kayo, Julian Barratt, Susan Wokoma and Malcolm McDowell.
Stables are turned on cupid Sara
DATING show host Sara Cox has fallen in love herself – with a horse.
The Radio 2 DJ has been set up with her dream four-legged partner by Love In The Countryside singleton Victoria Hammond.
Sara, who also presents new BBC2 reading show Between The Covers, which features a panel of famous faces, said: “She’s found this horse and hopefully I’m getting her at the end of this month. I’ve just got to get her checked out by the vet and all that. I can’t believe I’m saying it, it’s been my dream for so long.”
Sara also teased that series three of the dating show is in the works and that she is looking forward to playing cupid once more.
I wonder if she will find herself another animal match.
