Chris Oliver: who is new DS in SAS: Who Dares Wins, where has he served, background, does he know Jason Fox?

A new batch of 20 civilians will take part in season eight of SAS: Who Dares Wins, testing their physical and mental strength as they are put through an elite backbreaking selection course. The new season’s selection has been billed as the most savage yet, and was filmed deep in the jungle in Thung Ui, North Vietnam.

Navy SEAL Remi Adeleke joined the show as a DS this year but quit the series after just one season - he will be replaced by Chris Oliver, the newest addition to the staff. Other staff from the last season will also return to the show.

Who is Chris Oliver?

Chris Oliver, a 40 year old British military veteran from the North East of England, will join the crew of SAS: Who Dares Wins as the newest  member of the directing staff. Oliver is a former Special Forces operator and Royal Marine mountain leader who has 16 years of experience in the armed forces - he first joined the military aged 16.

Oliver said: "I will bring a hard-hitting intensity to the SAS: Who Dares Wins DS, being a fiery character with a very passionate approach to military training, with respect being at the forefront of everything I do.

"The values I intend to instil in the recruits, as part of the DS, have been forged on operations where we have lost good operators, so they had better be under no illusions – anyone who doesn’t play by the rules will pay the price."

Where has Chris Oliver served?

Oliver served in the Special Boat Service (SBS) alongside Jason Fox, known as Foxy, one of the original presenters on SAS: Who Dares Wins. Oliver left the military in 2015, and Foxy left the SBS in 2012.

Oliver was deployed on operations all over the world over his military career - icluding Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland, Oman, Iraq and Afghanistan. Foxy said: “It’s great to have Chris on board as a brand new DS. A man who I respect, having served with him before, he will bring an extra edge to an already very sharp blade.”

Who else will be on the staff on SAS: Who Dares Wins season 8?

• Billy’ Billingham (Chief DS) - former member of Special Air Service
• Jason Fox (DS) - former member of SBS
• Rudy Reyes (DS) - former United States Marine

When is SAS: Who Dares Wins on TV?

Season eight of SAS: Who Dares Wins will air on Channel 4 in January 2023 - a specific release date and time for the new series has not yet been confirmed. Episodes will be released weekly and be available to watch on All4 shortly after they are first broadcast. There are expected to be six episodes in the new season.

Season 1-7 of SAS: Who Dares wins and season 1-4 of Celebrity SAS are available to watch on All4 now. Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, which will see Matt Hacock put through his paces, is expected to air late in 2023.