What did you miss?
The hunky trainers of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins have revealed the “disappointing” real reason why they think John Barrowman has left the series – and it’s a far cry from the explanation the Torchwood star offered.
Barrowman left after just 32 minutes, after vomiting during the first episode, later telling Lorraine: “I kept telling myself, ‘I know who I am, I know who John Barrowman is. I made a mistake here. ‘”
However, the director’s staff told This Morning that they believed the actor had actually been put off by the lack of ‘creature comforts’ during a tour of the base camp and admitted it was disappointing for them as he had ‘taken a place’ on the process they had carefully designed.
What, how and why?
John Barrowman left Celebrity SAS in record time, claiming he left the Channel 4 series after just 32 minutes because he didn’t have to do any more work to find out who he really was.
But the show’s directing staff, Chris Oliver, Jason “Foxy” Fox and Rudy Reyes, told a very different story to This Morning ahead of Monday’s series finale, as they claimed he was shocked to discover there was no room for relaxation.
The former Special Forces officers said it had been very disappointing for them as Barrowman had taken up a spot on the course that they had spent time on, allowing celebrities to make the most of the experience.
Read more: Celebrity SAS
Foxy explained that celebrities needed a “why” to get them through tough times in the grueling process inspired by Special Forces selection: “The why is completely up to that person. But it must be strong, it must be unbreakable because it must last the entire duration of the course. If there is something in that, why will they look for an excuse to go.’
On trying to break down celebrities’ reasons for doing the show, he added: “That’s part of the appeal for us. We enjoy it. I like showing people that they are stronger than they think they are.”
But when asked about Barrowman’s exit, Oliver didn’t hold back, saying: “You think people know what the show is about. But when you factor that uncertainty into the equation… he came up with the why – Apparently his why wasn’t strong enough.
“He did the first job and we thought it was him. Normally the course is rolling and people take it as it comes. But we got to the base and we did an introduction, which is when me and Foxy show them around and showing them where they’ll be staying during the course, I think, once he realized there wasn’t a green room with the comfort he’s probably used to…”
Foxy added: “I think people really believe there is a green room and down time. I don’t think people realize the intensity of what is actually happening.”
Oliver also said Barrowman handing in his armband – something recruits must do when they leave – also had an effect on the staff. He explained: “It’s a disappointment for us because we’re teaching the course. Even though it’s a TV show and that’s great, the course is what we’re passionate about.
“He has taken a place there and we have spent time testing, setting up this course and we want to pass on our experiences to them so that they can grow, and when he turned (his armband) we were bitterly disappointed.”
Elsewhere, SAS staff spoke about the SAS final on This Morning. Anthony Ogogo, Bianca Gascoigne, Georgia Harrison and Lani Daniels are all still in the final and viewers will see if any of them make it through the course.
Regarding their chances, Foxy said: “If they’re all good enough to complete the course, they’ll all complete the course, but it’s really up to them.”
He added: “It’s a different story. So the people who have gotten to this stage are used to us yelling and screaming, putting them through the mixer and testing them physically, but this is all mental. It’s something completely different. “
Reyes said of so many women making it to the finals: “That’s what surprised me the most about this program. In my experience, we do not have women in the Special Forces community and I recognize that women are much stronger and much more capable than women. many people know it. They don’t have a lot of physicality, so they don’t rely on muscles or the typical things you get over.
He added: “There are some very special women who have what it takes to do tough work. Women can go places that men can’t go. They can certainly be an asset.”
What did John Barrowman say about quitting Celebrity SAS?
The morning after Barrowman left the first episode of this year’s series, he called Lorraine for a video interview in which he explained his reasons for not staying the course.
He told her he had signed up for the show: “The idea behind it was I thought it would give you the opportunity to tell the story and also the show itself helps people come to terms with things they’re struggling with and that they have lost. That’s why I did it, I thought: give it a try, see what happens and I also like a challenge.”
He added: “I looked at myself, even when I was doing the interview segments, and I still saw that angry person, the person who was still upset, the person who was still in a bad place.
“But when I went through that first day, they said things like ‘you don’t know who you are, you need to find out who you are, you need to find out who the real person is’. All the things they say to get you back up building, I kept saying to myself, ‘I know who I am, I know who John Barrowman is, I made a mistake here,’ and that was in the piece we were doing. When that light went off, I started to get sick I realized I was in a situation here. I know who John Barrowman is. I’m starting to get sick.
“Then that was it, I just said I was out because I didn’t think I could do it if I was sick.”
Watch: John Barrowman explains why he left Celebrity SAS after just 32 minutes
However, Barrowman added that he had no regrets, saying: “I have a very good feeling about it, and the show did exactly what it was intended to do: it made me realize who I was. The point is that John Barrowman has always helped other people.” coming to terms with who they are – helping them come out, dealing with their whole sexuality or dealing with their bisexuality, or being transgender – so I’ve always helped people deal with that in the past.
“So for me to make that decision and think about it now, it was the best decision I ever made and the best decision to do the show because the show did exactly what it was intended to do, but in a short period of time I don’t regret doing what I did, I don’t regret going on the show.”
He revealed that show bosses had tried to persuade him to stay: “They tried to talk me out of it, they tried to keep me in and I understand why, but in my head I had made the decision and I knew I would .” I made the right decision. I know who John Barrowman is, I know that no matter what the trolls say, I know that my mother loves me, my father loves me, my family loves me, my friends love me and that’s the most important thing. .”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV1.