Interview with Recruit 9 - DJ

6 May 2021

Name: DJ

Recruit: 9

Age: 35

Profession: Salon Owner

Hometown: Bedford

DJ is currently in the middle of a divorce from his ex wife of 13 years.  After they split up, he went through, what he describes as a mid life crisis.  He changed careers, giving up banking to open several children's hair salons.  He also changed his image, getting fitter and tattood and started having fun nights out, drinking for the first time. 

 

Tell me about your experience on SAS: Who Dares Wins? 

It was probably one of the best individual experiences of my life. This was a money can’t buy experience.  Whilst on the course, I thought I would never miss the course of the punishments.  However, once I got home, I missed being part of the course, quite severely. I missed the company and the friends and the whole experience.

 

Did you find it difficult? Was it more difficult than you expected?

Yes. I found it very tough, purely because one of my biggest challenges going in was listening to authority and being told what to do and this is a big part of the show that I knew would be a big challenge.  However I think I underestimated that challenge.

It was more difficult than I expected – physically and mentally.

 

You experienced a chemical warfare attack as part of the series. This is the first time SAS: Who Dares Wins recruits have taken part in this type of task.  How did you find that?

That was probably one of the most gruelling, unpleasurable, awful experiences. However, one that I’m glad I got to experience, under such professional guidance.  But it was horrible.

 

Have you ever done anything like this before?

Never!

 

What made you sign up?

I see it as the ultimate challenge. I don’t think there’s any other TV series that challenges you physically and mentally like SAS: Who Dares Wins.  For me, more than anything, I have two children who, at 14 and 11, are at the age where they require a role model. I wanted to show them that you can step back and do something that you won’t necessarily succeed in.

 

What did your kids think?

They haven’t seen the show yet but they saw me train for it and they saw how hard I was training. They were very vocal and supportive.  Them seeing me working hard for something I want to achieve was rewarding in itself.

 

What training did you do in preparation for this course?

I did a mixture of strength and endurance training. The majority was strength but in hindsight, I would have ignored the strength and focused on endurance – that was my struggle on the course.

 

Now that you have this experience, would you like to join the real Special Forces?

If it wasn’t for my children and where my career has gone now, then I would have liked to join the Special Forces. However, what I established on the course was that I wasn’t the person they would look for in the ‘Brotherhood.’  Physically and mentally I may be able to accomplish it but as my personality and my stubbornness would not have suited the SAS.

 

Would you have been interested in joining the Special Forces before this experience?

Maybe when I was younger but I didn’t know much about Special Forces before. The show educated me hugely about the Special Forces and what they did.

 

What was the best part of the series for you?

Having time to get to know other people, which is something you don’t get to do unless you’re back in college or school. Being put with people you didn’t know and out of your comfort zone was very rewarding and a great experience.

 

What was the hardest part of the series for you?

The beginning, convincing myself not to leave.

The hardest task was when we had to go through a small tunnel. Being 6’4 with broad shoulders, mentally and physically , it was harder for me than for others. I quickly established that confined spaces is one of my biggest fears, which I didn’t know until then.

 

What is your biggest fear and has this experience helped you get over that fear?

I think my biggest fear, only highlighted on the show which I didn’t know before, was confined spaces. The course helped me overcome that fear because I did it three times. I didn’t necessarily like it and I may not have overcome that fear but it definitely made me face that fear.

 

You had to share all your space with women for the whole time you were there, including sleeping and toilets. How did you find that?

Absolutely fine.  I didn’t necessarily enjoy the toilets and knowing I was on camera but that was nothing to do with being with women.

 

Would you ever do it again?

Yes, I would.  If I could add a few necessities, and the ability to wash, I wouldn’t mind doing it again.  With that taken away from me I would too.

The things I got to do – abseiling down an oil rig, run face down a cliff, they’re things the ordinary person would not be able to say they’ve done.

 

What do you think you’ve learnt about yourself?

I need to open up a bit and not be so conscious of my fear of coming across arrogant. I should just be myself rather than try to come across as someone different. 

 

How do you think you’ll come across?

This is a bit of an anxiety of mine. I worry that I will look arrogant or cocky.  I remember moments on the show when I was a bit cocky.  I just hope I come across well.