Reality TV star Dani Dyer was left with a bloody nose after a brutal fight scene during filming for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins took a nasty turn. The former Love Island winner, 29, was struck by Australian Married At First Sight contestant Jessika Power during a challenging 'Milling' exercise on the gruelling Channel 4 survival show.
The Gruelling Fight Scene
New images from the series reveal the moment Dani Dyer started bleeding after Jessika Power landed a punch. Despite the injury, the daughter of EastEnders actor Danny Dyer appeared unbothered and carried on with the task. The incident occurred as 14 British and Australian celebrities were put through their paces by the show's infamous Directing Staff in the harsh environment of North Africa.
Chief instructor Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham admitted he was "surprised" by how Dani handled herself throughout the demanding course. He said: "Little Dani Dyer surprised me. Very small girl. She was very timid at the start, lacked a lot of confidence and didn’t really believe in herself. 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."
Training and Family Support
Before entering the show, Dani received crucial advice from her husband, West Ham United footballer Jarrod Bowen, whom she married in May. The couple are parents to twins Summer and Star. She told The Sun: "Jarrod told me to up my training before I went in. We went up to his family in the Midlands. I was training in potato fields with my dad, running up and down."
Dani, who was originally due to appear on this year's Strictly Come Dancing but was replaced by Amber Davies due to a prior injury, added: "I said to Jarrod, ‘I can’t believe you do all your training outside, even if it rains. I’ve always loved being indoors doing the gym stuff. To go outside was the nitty-gritty of it all. I’m really glad I did it." Both her husband and her father initially thought she was "nuts" for signing up.
A Brutal But Transformative Experience
The new series also features cricketer Graeme Swann, Love Island’s Gabby Allen, and rugby player Ben Cohen. Dani described the relentless nature of the experience: "I knew it was going to be hard... 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 revealed the show helped her cope with public criticism and insecurity. "With the job that I do, it comes with a lot of s**t thrown at you and people saying you’re talentless," Dani admitted. "I stick up for myself a bit more now... But the Directing Staff tell you that the people in your life are the ones that matter." She concluded that she learned she is "a lot stronger" than she previously believed.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins airs on Sunday 4 January at 9pm on Channel 4.
