Special Forces: World's Toughest Test is an American reality series that is quasi-military training television series that premiered on Fox on January 4, 2023. It is an adaptation of the British reality series SAS: Who Dares Wins and reuses Directing Staff (DS) instructors from that series.
Format Like the original British series, Special Forces: World's Toughest Test pits contestants, dubbed "recruits", against harsh environments all around the world in a shortened training course that is designed to replicate a number of elements of the actual United States Special Forces selection course, which is notoriously difficult and has claimed the lives of people who have participated in it. The show's Directing Staff (DS) take the recruits through hostile and unforgiving warfare environments, while testing their mental and physical ability through a series of tests. Unlike many reality competition series, there are no formal elimination points; instead, contestants may voluntarily withdraw or be medically withdrawn at any point prior to completion. They may also be disqualified for failing to complete specific steps of the course.
Through the order and variety of training exercises varies from season to season, the final two episodes of each season follow the remaining recruits as they train on escape and evasion during enemy attacks, followed by resistance to interrogation when captured by enemy forces. The latter portion of this stage reuses the same interrogation staff from the original British series, overseen by an anonymous former senior chief intelligence officer referred to as "the Umpire".
Production On September 7, 2022, it was announced that Fox had ordered the series, originally titled Special Forces: The Ultimate Test, with Sophie Leonard, Alicia Kerr and Becky Clarke as the executive producers. Youssef Louchi served as production supervisor on the series. The series premiered on January 4, 2023. Special Forces: World's Toughest Test season 1 was filmed in Jordan (Wadi Rum Desert). On May 15, 2023, Fox renewed the series for a second season which was filmed in New Zealand's South Island and premiered on September 25, 2023. On May 13, 2024, Fox renewed the series for a third season which was filmed in Wales, the home of British Special Forces Selection, and premiered on January 8, 2025 with 2-hour episodes over five weeks. On May 12, 2025, Fox renewed the series for a fourth season which was filmed in Morocco and premiered on September 25, 2025. On May 11, 2026, Fox renewed the series for a fifth season which was filmed in Malaysia and will premiere on September 24, 2026.
Cast The Directing Staff (DS) instructors are: Rudy Reyes, a former United States Recon Marine; Jason 'Foxy' Fox, a former SBS operator; Mark 'Billy' Billingham, an ex-SAS Sergeant Major and Remi Adeleke, a veteran Navy SEAL Senior Chief. Adeleke did not return for Season 2, and was replaced by Jovon 'Q' Quarles, another veteran Navy SEAL. The series is narrated by Shaun Dooley, the same narrator for the original British series.
Recruits Season 1 Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number) 4 Hannah Brown The Bachelorette star 8 Carli Lloyd Former professional soccer player 13 Dwight Howard NBA playerDisqualified (10) 16 Danny Amendola Former NFL wide receiver 10 Gus Kenworthy Former Olympic freestyle skierMedically Withdrawn (8) 5 Mike Piazza Former MLB catcher 14 Kenya Moore The Real Housewives of Atlanta star 6 Anthony Scaramucci Former White House Communications Director 1 Beverley Mitchell Actress & singer 9 Mel B Spice Girls singer 15 Nastia Liukin Former Olympic artistic gymnast 2 Jamie Lynn Spears Actress & singer 7 Montell Jordan SingerMedically Withdrawn (2) 12 Tyler Florence Chef & television host 3 Dr. Drew Pinsky Media personality & physicianMedically Withdrawn (1) 11 Kate Gosselin Reality television personalityMedically Withdrawn (1)
Season 2 Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number) 5 Tyler Cameron The Bachelorette star 6 Erin Jackson Olympic speed skater 12 Nick Viall The Bachelor & The Bachelorette star 3 JoJo Siwa Dancer, singer & actress 4 Tom Sandoval Vanderpump Rules starDisqualified (8) 9 Bode Miller Olympic alpine ski racer 1 Jack Osbourne The Osbournes starMedically Withdrawn (6) 14 Kelly Rizzo Influencer & widow of Bob Saget 7 Savannah Chrisley Chrisley Knows Best star 8 Robert Horry Former NBA player 10 Brian Austin Green Actor 13 Dez Bryant Former NFL wide receiver 11 Blac Chyna Model & actress 2 Tara Reid Actress
Season 3 Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number) 8 Kayla Nicole Influencer & model 12 Brody Jenner The Hills star 9 Golden Tate Former NFL wide receiverDisqualified (10) 16 Cam Newton Former NFL quarterbackDisqualified (10) 11 Alana Blanchard Surfer 2 Christy Carlson Romano Actress & podcasterDisqualified (8) 15 Kyla Pratt Actress 10 Carey Hart Former freestyle motocross racerMedically Withdrawn (7) 14 Landon Donovan Former professional soccer playerMedically Withdrawn (4) 1 Nathan Adrian Olympic swimmerMedically Withdrawn (3) 6 Marion Jones Former Olympic track-and-field athleteMedically Withdrawn (3) 7 Jordyn Wieber Former Olympic gymnast 13 Trista Sutter The Bachelorette star 4 Ali Manno The Bachelorette starMedically Withdrawn (2) 3 Denise Richards Actress 5 Stephen Baldwin ActorDisqualified (2)
Season 4 Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number) 10 Shawn Johnson East Former Olympic gymnast(Wife of Andrew East) 18 Gia Giudice Podcaster & Next Gen NYC star(Daughter of Teresa Giudice) 2 Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia Podcaster & social media influencerDisqualified (9) 4 Kody Brown Sister Wives starDisqualified (9) 11 Andrew East Former NFL long snapper(Husband of Shawn Johnson East)Disqualified (9) 14 Randall Cobb Former NFL wide receiver 3 Mark Estes TikTok influencerMedically Withdrawn (7) 9 Christie Pearce Rampone Former professional soccer playerMedically Withdrawn (7) 5 Jessie James Decker Singer(Wife of Eric Decker) 6 Eric Decker Former NFL wide receiver(Husband of Jessie James Decker)Medically Withdrawn (6) 8 Chanel Iman SupermodelDisqualified (6) 7 Ravi V. Patel Actor 13 Nick Young Former NBA player 12 Johnny Manziel Former NFL quarterback 16 Jussie Smollett Actor & singerMedically Withdrawn (3) 15 Eva Marcille Actress & America's Next Top Model Season 3 winnerDisqualified (2) 17 Teresa Giudice The Real Housewives of New Jersey star(Mother of Gia Giudice) 1 Brittany Cartwright The Valley star
Season 5 Recruit Celebrity Known for Status (Episode number) 2 Hannah Stocking ComedianParticipating 3 Oliver Hudson ActorParticipating 7 Collin Gosselin Jon & Kate Plus 8 starParticipating 8 Candace Cameron Bure ActressParticipating 9 David Charvet Entrepreneur and ActorParticipating 10 Maxim Naumov Olympic Figure SkaterParticipating 11 Matt Barnes Former NBA Player and PodcasterParticipating 12 Alycia Baumgardner World Champion BoxerParticipating 13 Breana Tiesi Selling Sunset starParticipating 14 Mauricio Umansky Buying Beverly Hills star(Father of Alexia Umansky)Participating 15 Alexia Umansky Buying Beverly Hills star(Daughter of Mauricio Umansky)Participating 1 Ruby Rose Actress 4 George Santos Former Politician 6 LeSean McCoy Former NFL running back 5 Brandi Glanville The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills starMedically Withdrawn (1)
Episodes Series overview
Season 1 (2023)
Season 2 (2023)
Season 3 (2025)
Season 4 (2025)
Season 5 (2026)
Ratings
Syndication In 2023, Season 1 was syndicated to E4, part of Channel 4 in the UK, where the series is known as Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins USA.
Notes
References
External links