Fatima Whitbread

Olympic medallist Fatima Whitbread is one of 14 celebrities partaking in Celebrity SAS, alongside Maisie Smith, Amber Gill and Ashley Cain.

[SAS: Who Dares Wins](https://metro.co.uk/tag/sas-who-dares-wins/), Fatima [opens up about her emotional childhood](https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/04/celebrity-sas-who-dares-win-2022-fatima-whitbread-opens-up-about-childhood-17292869/(opens%20in%20a%20new%20tab)), telling [DS (Directing Staff) Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham and Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox](https://metro.co.uk/2022/04/09/sas-who-dares-wins-billy-and-foxy-havent-heard-from-ant-middleton-16426083/) that she was ‘abandoned as a baby and left to die.’ [Ferne McCann took on ‘same mindset’ as giving birth to help her through gruelling Celebrity SAS challenges: ‘I wanted to feel that pain’](https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/31/celebrity-sas-who-dares-wins-ferne-mccann-took-on-mindset-of-giving-birth-17271598/?ico=more_text_links) She then shares: ‘I was abandoned as a baby, and some would say left to die, in a flat in London, and a neighbour heard that baby crying for a couple of days and didn’t see anyone coming or going, so she reported it.’ ‘I spent the first 14 years of my life in children’s homes, I didn’t have any visits, I didn’t have any birthday cards or anything to indicate that there was anybody out there. [left a pretty memorable moment in viewers’ minds when a cockroach ended up getting stuck up](https://metro.co.uk/2021/11/21/im-a-celebrity-2021-most-unforgettable-moments-on-series-ever-15639645/) the former professional athlete’s nose, with Fatima requiring help to flush the creepy crawly out from her nostril. After impressing the DS during the notorious gassing challenge, in which, unlike many of the other celebs, she kept her cool, Fatima opens in the mirror room, telling Billy and Foxy: ‘Yeah it’s hard, I didn’t expect it not to be, but you dig deep and see what you’ve got.’ Fatima gained her MBE in 1987, for services to athletics, and has appeared on shows including A Question of Sport and Celebrity Wrestling. She broke the world record with a throw of 77.44m in the 1986 European Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, becoming the first British athlete to set a world record in a throwing event. [Fatima Whitbread ](https://metro.co.uk/tag/fatima-whitbread/)is one of 14 celebrities enduring the brutal temperatures of the Jordan dessert as she partakes in this year’s [Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.](https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/24/full-line-up-revealed-for-2022-celebrity-sas-who-dares-wins-17232156/) [Love Island](https://metro.co.uk/tag/love-island/?ico=auto_link_entertainment_P2_LNK1) winner Amber Gill, former EastEnders actress [Maisie Smith](https://metro.co.uk/tag/maisie-smith/?ico=auto_link_entertainment_P2_LNK2), and [Strictly Come Dancing](https://metro.co.uk/tag/strictly-come-dancing/?ico=auto_link_entertainment_P2_LNK3)’s AJ Pritchard are among the names competing this year. Her stint in the 11th series in the Australian jungle left her in joint third place, and also The next year, Fatima went on to win the 1987 World Championships, and took part in the 1990 UK Athletics Championships before she formally retired in 1992. [Ashley Cain](https://metro.co.uk/tag/ashley-cain/?ico=auto_link_entertainment_P3_LNK1) and former Olympic sprinter Dwayne Chambers.

Fatima Whitbread is the oldest to join Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins this year, but she braved the challenges despite an injury.

She opened up about how the younger contestants were very supportive of her throughout the process, and said: Fatima is seen supporting Pete Wicks in the first episode, and relates to DS staff Rudy Reyes for a similar upbringing in children’s homes. I didn’t want her to go but I could see she was in so much pain. Anyone who has had cracked ribs will know that trying to get off the bed alone is a nightmare. The mother to one son, Ryan, also said that she had to throw a punch at Love Island’s Amber Gill. The athlete cracked three ribs after jumping out of a helicopter during filming.

The ultimate endurance test for celebrities is back, as 14 new recruits including Calum Best and Fatima Whitbread undertake their SAS training in the ...

Of course, Billingham’s sentiment is correct to a degree, but this is a TV show, so there is inevitably a level of “fake” here, too. delivers that in spades – though why any of the participants have agreed to it, I’ll never know. “They are in for a big shock.” Some of the celebrities struggled – though you would, wouldn’t you, being locked in a room full of tear gas? In for a penny, in for a pound, I suppose. “Celebrities live in a world of fake,” said directing staff member and former SAS officer Billingham.

Shannon Courtenay and Jonathan Broom-Edwards have teased the upcoming challenge, which airs in tonight's episode of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the [Radio Times podcast](https://www.radiotimes.com/podcasts/) with Jane Garvey. Don't put water on your face.' And I immediately did all three. [TV Guide](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/) or visit our dedicated [Entertainment](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/) hub for the latest news. [Subscribe today](https://www.buysubscriptions.com/print/radio-times-magazine-subscription?promo=RTBWDSS1A&utm_medium=brandsite&utm_source=radiotimes.com&utm_campaign=summer-sale_rtbwdss1a&utm_content=sidebar-widget&style=brand) [subscribe now](https://www.radiotimes.com/magazine-subscription/) to get each issue delivered to your door. "I didn't realise how bad that would be. [terms and conditions](https://www.immediate.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/) and [privacy policy](https://policies.immediate.co.uk/privacy/). Absolutely horrendous. [2022 line-up for Celebrity SAS: Who Dare Wins](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/celebrity-sas-2022-confirms-cast-newsupdate/) last month, with [Strictly Come Dancing](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/talent-shows/strictly-come-dancing-2022-release-date/) stars Maisie Smith and AJ Pritchard taking part alongside [Love Island](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/love-island-2023-winter-summer-newsupdate/)'s Amber Gill and Olympian Fatima Whitbread. And it's definitely the ugliest I think I've ever looked in my life." [Subscribe to Radio Times magazine and get 12 issues for £1](https://www.buysubscriptions.com/print/radio-times-magazine-subscription?promo=RTBPL22&utm_medium=brandsite&utm_source=radiotimes.com&utm_campaign=fixed-article_rtbpl22&utm_content=promotional-link&utm_style=brand) [RadioTimes.com](http://RadioTimes.com) and other press, Broom-Edwards said the gassing challenge was the hardest thing he had to do on the show.

The hit Channel 4 show is back for a new series as 14 more celebrities see if they have what it takes to pass the gruelling Special Air Services screening ...

If you're on Facebook, you can find our dedicated social media group on all things celeb [here](https://www.facebook.com/groups/393445517839575) Former Olympic athlete Fatima Whitbread MBE and [Strictly Come Dancing's](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/strictly-come-dancing) AJ Pritchard are also starring in the 2022 season. [here ](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/). @cookiejoe9 quipped: "Mmm here we go Z list celebs." @Demita_H agreed, asking: "Is there ever a programme where I don’t know 50% of these so called celebs." The hit [crop of contestants](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/celebrity-sas-start-date-full-24849000) features the likes of [Love Island](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/love-island) winner Amber Gill, footballer Ashley Cain and [EastEnders](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/eastenders) actress Maisie Smith. [Jason 'Foxy' Fox](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/sas-who-dares-wins-jason-22302951) and Remi Adeleke as he welcomed the new recruits. [Celebrity SAS start date and full line-up as Channel 4 lines up longest-ever series](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/celebrity-sas-start-date-full-24849000) [ITV Celebrity Lingo viewers make same demand as they slam Adil Ray's 'off-putting' replacement](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/itv-celebrity-lingo-viewers-make-24928588) [Love Island star Amber Gill says appearing on Celebrity SAS made her realise she needed therapy](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/love-island-star-amber-gill-24927995) [Love Island's Ekin-Su and Davide reunite amid rumours of 'ongoing rows'](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/love-islands-ekin-su-davide-24928311) [Joe Lycett divides fans as he 'derails' Laura Kuenssberg's new BBC show with 'right wing' comments](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/joe-lycett-divides-fans-derails-24927762) [Jane McDonald says she doesn't think she'll 'ever have another man'](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/jane-mcdonald-says-doesnt-think-24927468) [Channel 4](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/channel-4) show returned to screens tonight (September 4).