DANI DYER LEFT WITH BLEEDING NOSE AFTER BEING PUNCHED IN CELEBRITY SAS CLASH

Dani Dyer has been left bloodied and bruised after suffering a nasty blow to the face during filming for the upcoming series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

The reality star and mum-of-three is among the recruits taking part in the eighth series of the gruelling Channel 4 show, which is set to return in January 2026 with a dramatic new format. This time around, the series introduces a competitive twist, pitting a group of British celebrities against an Australian team in a battle to determine which nation has what it takes to survive the notorious SAS selection process.

In first-look scenes from the opening episode, Dani is seen walking away from a make-shift boxing ring with a bleeding nose after being punched during a sparring challenge. The clash takes place against Australian reality star Jessika Power, best known for her appearance on Married At First Sight Australia.

Wearing head guards and padded gloves, the recruits are put through an intense combat drill designed to test resilience under pressure, and Dani quickly finds herself tested both physically and mentally. Despite the visible injury, she is seen brushing off the knock and continuing, earning praise from the show’s formidable directing staff.

Dani Dyer is joined by Love Island alum Gabby Allen – Credit: Channel 4

Chief Instructor Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham admitted he was surprised by Dani’s performance.
“Little Dani Dyer surprised me,” he said. “Very small girl. She was very timid at the start, lacked a lot of confidence and didn’t really believe in herself.”

He continued: “She was willing to give up, but found a second wind with support from myself, Chris Oliver, Rudy Reyes and Foxy [Jason Fox]. She never believed she could do it, but she could.”

The SAS experience marks another physically demanding challenge for Dani, who was recently forced to withdraw from Strictly Come Dancing due to injury. Filming for Celebrity SAS took place before the 2025 series of Strictly, meaning viewers will now see her pushing herself to the limit long before her ballroom stint.

Dani has previously spoken openly about her struggles with confidence and anxiety, making her decision to sign up for the notoriously brutal show all the more significant. When she was confirmed as part of the 2026 lineup earlier this month, she revealed she had been a long-time fan of the programme.

“I’ve always watched it and wondered if I could do it,” she said. “I want to put myself to the test. I’m nuts, but I think I will be good at it.”

She added: “I’ll be completely out of my comfort zone. I just hope that I will be able to stop listening to the voices in my head and just get to the end because that would make me so proud.”

While Dani feels confident in her physical abilities, she admitted the mental challenge would be her biggest hurdle.
“I think physically I’ve got this,” she explained. “Mentally is what I’ll struggle with as my brain attacks me all the bloody time. I just want to believe in myself a little bit more and stop being a negative Nancy.”

Dyer said she wanted to put herself to the test in the show – Credit: Channel 4

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins has built a reputation for breaking down even the toughest of recruits, with previous series seeing celebrities pushed to their absolute limits through sleep deprivation, harsh weather, and relentless physical tasks.

This year’s Britain vs Australia format is expected to dial the intensity up even further, with recruits from both sides competing not just for personal pride, but national bragging rights.

The full lineup includes a mix of sports stars, actors, musicians and reality TV favourites:

Celebrity SAS 2026 Line-Up

• Dani Dyer
• Gabby Allen
• Graeme Swann
• Ben Cohen
• Cole Anderson-James
• Toby Olubi
• Jack Joseph
• Jessika Power
• Brad Hodge
• Emily Seebohm
• Axle Whitehead
• Ryan Moloney
• Natalie Bassingthwaighte
• Mack Horton

With blood, tears and brutal challenges already teased, Dani Dyer’s journey on Celebrity SAS is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about storylines of the new series.