Reality TV star Dani Dyer was left with a bloody nose after a fight scene took a nasty turn during filming for the gruelling Channel 4 show, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Milling Challenge Turns Physical
The former Love Island winner, 29, was paired with Australian Married At First Sight star Jessika Power for a brutal 'milling' exercise, where contestants must go head-to-head. Newly released pictures show the moment Dyer sustained a nosebleed after Power landed a punch. Despite the injury, the star reportedly carried on with the challenge undeterred.
The incident occurred during filming for the new series, which pits 14 British and Australian celebrities against each other in the harsh terrain of North Africa. They are put through their paces by the show's infamous directing staff, led by Chief Instructor Mark 'Billy' Billingham.
Surprising Strength and Family Support
Billingham admitted he was "surprised" by Dani Dyer's resilience. "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... She never believed she could do it, but she could."
Prior to entering the SAS selection process, Dyer received crucial advice from her husband, West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen. "Jarrod told me to up my training before I went in," she told The Sun, revealing she trained in potato fields with her father, EastEnders legend Danny Dyer.
Both her husband and father thought she was "nuts" for signing up. She joked about her dad's approach to fitness: "When he does Soccer Aid, he has a fag just before he goes on the pitch. He was really proud of me, but we went, 'I’d never do that.'"
A Brutal But Transformative Experience
Dani, who shares twins Summer and Star with Bowen, found the experience harder than expected. "You just never switch off, whether you’re back in your dorms or out on a challenge. You’re constantly second-guessing and never knowing what’s next. It was brutal - but I really enjoyed it," she said.
The star, who had to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing earlier this year due to injury, claimed the show taught her she is "a lot stronger" than she thought. She also learned to cope with public criticism. "With the job that I do, it comes with a lot of s**t thrown at you and people saying you’re talentless," Dyer admitted. "I stick up for myself a bit more now."
The new series also features cricketer Graeme Swann, Love Island’s Gabby Allen, and rugby player Ben Cohen. Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins airs on Sunday 4 January at 9pm on Channel 4.
