Louie Spence recalls ‘suffocating' during swimming task on Celebrity SAS
The Channel 4 military-style reality show returned on Sunday and saw 14 new celebrity recruits tasked with plunging 26 feet into the sea before swimming to a passing speed boat.
Advertisement
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain (GMB), Spence, 56, said: 'It was no good and I thought I'd be good at the swimming task.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by SAS: Who Dares Wins (@sas_whodareswins)
'I swim every day, I enjoy swimming, but, you know what it was, you have to put a life jacket on.'
'He (directing staff, Rudy Reyes) went out like a fish in water, with no life jacket. So when you jump in, it gives you a bit of drag.
'And I said to them I want a tight jacket, because I thought I won't get as much drag. Well, I was like suffocating. It was too tight. That's why I didn't make it to the boat.'
Advertisement
Spence, along with S Club singer Hannah Spearritt, withdrew from the show during the first episode.
Spence said: 'The reason I did it (the show) as well, was that I came off my antidepressants six months before I got asked to do the show.
'So I was feeling really strong in mind and physically I thought I was okay. I upped my physicality, so I thought it'd be a challenge to see, not being on like medication, how I deal with this kind of situation, and, in fact, the mental side of it, I felt fine with.
'I wasn't frightened about jumping in the water, all of those kind of things. It was the physical (side).
Advertisement
'I just felt as though I didn't have the physical capacity. And I was surrounded by these people who were so enthusiastic, and it was a big team that you had to play with.
'It's all part of being a team. And I didn't feel as though I was going to contribute to being part of that team.'
This year's celebrity recruits also include ex-drug mule Michaella McCollum, former footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa, Strictly Come Dancing 2025 runner-up Tasha Ghouri, Traitors winner Harry Clark, rapper Lady Leshurr, boxer Conor Benn, singer Lucy Spraggan, and ex-Love Island contestants Chloe Burrows and Adam Collard.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins next airs on Channel 4 on Monday at 9pm.
Advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
Former priest accused of ‘brainwashing' followers in evangelical Church of England cult claims he led on ‘consensus'
A former priest accused of leading an evangelical cult in the Church of England has denied 'brainwashing' his followers as he stands trial for sexually abusing 13 women. Christopher Brain, who led the rave-style Nine O-Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield in the 80s and 90s, allegedly surrounded himself with women who wore lingerie or revealing clothes as part of his 'homebase team' who kept his house 'spotlessly clean'. Jurors at Inner London Crown Court previously heard the women – sometimes referred to as 'the Lycra Lovelies' or 'the Lycra Nuns' – were on a rota to help then-Reverend Brain get to bed, and this included performing sexual favours. The 68-year-old denies one count of rape and 36 counts of indecent assault relating to the 13 women between 1981 and 1995. Giving evidence in his own defence on Monday, Mr Brain – who was in a Christian band – admitted he became the unofficial leader of a Christian group known as the 'Nairn Street Community', made up of up of around a dozen people who felt they did not fit into a traditional church congregation. This group later became part of NOS, formed after they heard 'charismatic' evangelical American minister John Wimber speak. His preaching included practices such as 'laying on hands' and speaking in tongues, the court heard. Mr Brain admitted he would be described as the leader of NOS, a congregation which met for 9pm services 'shaped around club culture' at St Thomas' in Crookes, Sheffield, but claimed there were other members of a leadership team. Mr Brain said he "rarely" stood at the front of worships and instead played more of a "producer" role. He admitted he may have been 'overbearing' at times as he led the art and direction of NOS services, which featured music and visual effects. 'I think most of the time I lead on consensus,' he told the jury from the witness box, wearing a black suit and shirt. 'It's also my character style. However when it got to music and direction I could be very direct and be very Yorkshire and straight and I think at times I probably was overbearing.' Asked by his lawyer, Iain Simkins KC, if he was at times 'overly direct', he replied: 'Yeah, by today's standards.' However, he denied 'brainwashing' or 'exerting undue control' over congregation members. Asked by Mr Simkin 'did you turn them into robots to allow you to manipulate them for your own sexual desires', he responded: 'No.' The prosecution allege NOS became a 'closed and controlled' group which he used to 'sexually assault a staggering number of women from his congregation'. The former priest appeared in a 1995 documentary and made admissions to the filmmaker of sexual contact with a number of the female members of NOS, jurors were told. Mr Brain, 68, who denies all charges, insists NOS was not a cult. He accepts that he engaged in sexual activity with some of the complainants, but that it was consensual. The eight-week trial continues.
Daily Mail
9 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Conor McGregor invites Donald Trump to try 'the best Coke in Ireland'... days after losing civil rape case
Troubled ex-UFC star Conor McGregor has bizarrely invited Donald Trump to visit his Dublin pub and try the 'best Coke in Ireland.' McGregor, who has been embroiled in a string of scandals in recent years including a civil rape case, was invited to the White House earlier this year. And now he wants to return the favor and give the president a 'unique, true, IRISH EXPERIENCE!' at the Black Forge Inn. 'See you in November Donald, at Irelands greatest public house, the multi time award winning, @blackforgeinn!' McGregor wrote on X. 'We look very forward! Ireland's friend @realDonaldTrump, we have the best Coke in all Ireland for you to try! Sparkly fizzy, and on the rocks. With Irish lemon and lime, also! For adding. ICE COLD! 'Our Coca Cola factory is just 5 minutes away on the long mile road, walking distance, from the black forge inn! 'GIVE THAT BOY A CAN OF COKE!' You are going to LOVE IT! The unique, true, IRISH EXPERIENCE!' See you in November Donald, at Irelands greatest public house, the multi time award winning, @blackforgeinn! We look very forward! 🥘🥤 Ireland's friend @realDonaldTrump, we have the best Coke in all Ireland for you to try! Sparkly fizzy, and on the rocks. With Irish lemon… — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 4, 2025 Alongside the social media message, McGregor included an AI image of himself and Trump. They are dressed up as medieval knights around a table of meat and potatoes. In the image, Trump is drinking a can of Coca Cola. McGregor's pub was recently set on fire, with the authorities treating the blaze as criminal damage. Last week, meanwhile, the ex-MMA star lost his attempt to overturn a jury's order that he compensate a woman who accused him of raping her. The court rejected the appeal in its entirety. Nikita Hand alleged that McGregor sexually assaulted her on December 9, 2018. He was found liable back in November and three judges in Dublin rejected all five grounds of the MMA fighter's appeal. McGregor, 37, was ordered to pay nearly €250,000 ($290,000), plus costs after Ms Hand accused him of raping her at a hotel in Dublin in 2018. He denied the allegation and said he had 'fully consensual sex'. He also denied causing bruising to the plaintiff. McGregor was not present for last week's decision, with Hand claiming she had been 'retraumatised' by the appeal. 'To every survivor out there, I know how hard it is but please don't be silenced. You deserve to be heard. You also deserve justice,' she said. Trump hosted the Irish MMA star and his family in the Oval Office on St Patrick's Day, with McGregor even vowing to raise concerns over immigration in Ireland with the president. The 37-year-old, who also attended Trump's inauguration in January, praised the president's 'inspiring' work ethic.
The Sun
9 minutes ago
- The Sun
Love Island finalist is ‘producer plant' claim fans after spotting FIVE clues
LOVE Island fans are convinced one show star is a "producer plant" just hours before the show final. They have claimed the ITV2 show hunk - who is battling it out for the £50k cash prize in tonight's final - "feels off" with a series of behaviour traits. 6 6 6 Now Barnsley-born Ty Isherwood has been put under the spotlight by a variety of eagle-eyed Love Island fans. The 23-year-old entered proceedings at the Casa Amor stage and coupled up with Shakira, with the pair then being voted the most compatible by the public. Yet a few days later, after briefly being coupled up with Lauren, he found a spark with Angel when she ranked him as her number one boy. Despite the duo appearing to go from strength to strength, a portion of fans are hugely sceptical about his place on the show. One took to Reddit to outline their view that the site engineer has been placed in the villa by show bosses and said: "Okay, hear me out. I genuinely think Ty might be a producer plant. "Just my POV, but there are too many things that feel off." They then outlined five reasons why this may be the case and argued: "Starting from Casa — he didn't seem to care much whether he ended up with Helena or Shakira. (Yes, maybe he just wanted to secure a spot, but the indifference felt too flat.). "When Shakira and Ty did the voting to dump a couple he just agreed with whatever Shakira said. "Then when Shakira dumped him for Conor, there was zero reaction. He was just suddenly was okay with Lauren." For the fourth reason, they continued: "Then, just as he's settling with Lauren, boom — Angel enters, and suddenly he dumps Lauren like a formality." Love Island's Ty kisses with his eyes open They then wrapped their argument and put: "And through all of this, no real emotional depth, no strong connections, and almost no air time. "It honestly seems like he's just going with whatever the producers lay out for him. He hasn't actively pursued anyone. No spark, no persuasion — just vibes and scripted transitions. "I feel like they brought in Angel mostly for Harry — and to stir things up. Ty would have been so cool to re-couple with Helena, especially since they didn't during Casa. Anyone else feel like something's off?" Fans were quick to respond to the wild claim. Love Island winners - where they are now EVERY year Love Island opens its doors to more sexy Islanders who are hoping for a holiday romance that could turn into more. Here we take you through all of the Love Island winners so far and what their relationship statuses are now: 2025 - The second series of All Stars saw Gabby Allen and Case O'Gorman scoop the crown. STATUS: Still together. 2024 - The summer Love Island saw Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan were crowned the winners. STATUS: Broken up. 2024 - The first ever All stars spin off show was won by Molly Smith and Tom Clare. STATUS: Still together. 2023 - Jess Harding and Sammy Root took home the 50k, and won the summer 2023 Love Island. STATUS: Broken up. 2023 - The first series of 2023 saw Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan crowned Love Island winners in South Africa. STATUS: Still together. 2022 - Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu's time in the villa was anything but a smooth ride, but they managed to win the public's hearts - and the ITV2 reality show. STATUS: Broken up. 2021 - Liam Reardon and Millie Court were announced winners of Love Island 2021. STATUS: Still together. 2020 - The first ever winter Love Island saw Paige Turley and Finn Tapp crowned winners after falling in love on the show. STATUS: Broken up. 2019 - Series 5 saw Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague runners up to winners Greg O'Shea and Amber Gill, who met in the last few days of the series. STATUS: Broken up. 2018 - It wasn't surprising fan favourites Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer won the show, as they were strong throughout. But sadly things didn't last. STATUS: Broken up. 2017 - Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies had lots of ups and downs in the villa but went on to win. STATUS: Broken up. 2016 - Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde were together from the start of the series, and since they won the show they've had two kids and are married. STATUS: Still together. 2015 - Despite poor Jess Hayes being Max Morley's second choice on the show, they did win - but they didn't last as a couple. STATUS: Broken up. Another replied: "He's just not as attention seeking as other guys. All of them and none of them are producer plants. They are all told what to do by producers." A third then wrote: "I mean this would align with the fact Ty was on the dry run (where he both met and slept with Lauren before the show). "You definitely could be going somewhere with this but I'm unsure how much manipulation the producers can realistically do." COUPLE DOUBT The claims came after fans already had doubts about how committed Angel was to Ty. Eyebrows were raised as Ty asked Angel if they could 'go exclusive' – essentially making them boyfriend/girlfriend in all but name – yet her reaction left viewers believing there's doubt in place for Angel. Throw in their differing lifestyles, and some are thinking that they could already be on the way out. A Reddit poster explained: 'Hear me out. Angel is a fairly big Instagram influencer, who if you look at her instagram seems to be all about the boujee life. 'Her entire feed is her hanging with super stunning models all with huge followings on yachts in Spain, ski trips in the French Alps, constant trips to Dubai and seems to be living a pretty expensive glamorous life.' 'Ty is a sweetheart but does seem just like a genuine working class guy from a normal background,' they added. 'Absolutely nothing wrong with that, I just find it hard to believe this is the type of guy Angel is genuinely interested in with the lifestyle she projects on Instagram.' Other fans are convinced the duo had a connection before the show even started, while others were left confused by Ty's kissing technique. The remaining couples still in the villa and battling it out in the final are: Ty and Angel, Toni and Cach, Shakira and Harry, and Yasmin and Jamie. Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2. 6 6 6
