Tez Ilyas and  Shazia Mirza are to be put through special forces training in the next series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

The comedians have joined 12 other famous faces – including Boris Johnson's journalist sister Rachel  –  in the New Zealand wilderness, it has been reported today. 

Filming is just about to start on the sixth series of the demanding Channel 4 reality show, with the celebs flying out this week.

The fifth series, for which former Health Secretary Matt Hancock was paid £45,000 to take part, has also yet to air.

Mirza, 47, is no stranger to being put through the mill for the TV cameras, having previously taken part in Celebrity The Island with Bear Grylls on Channel 4 in 2017 and the Channel 5 show Celebs in Solitary the following year.  She’ll also be seen in the next series of Celebrity Masterchef.

Outside of stand-up, Ilyas, 40, is best known for playing Eight in Guz Khan’s BBC Three comedy Man Like Mobeen and presenting satirical programme The Tez O'Clock Show on Channel 4.

In 2020, he stood down as the comedian’s representative on the Live Comedy Association after admitting ‘unacceptable behaviour’ towards women. At the time he said he was getting therapy to ‘try and understand where this behaviour comes from’ He got married last year.

The other celebrities named by The Sun today, most of whom are drawn from the ranks of reality TV, are:

• Doctor Who and Torchwood actor John Barrowman, who has faced allegations of sexual misconduct over what he called ‘high-spirited behaviour… intended in good humour’
• Ex-England ruby union captain Chris Robshaw
• Former gymnast Ellie Downie
• Retired Olympic boxing medallist Anthony Ogogo
• Towie’s Pete Wicks – who had to pull out of last year’s show after breaking his ribs when a   jump from a helicopter went horribly wrong. 
• Former Love Island contestant Georgia Harrison, whose ex Stephen Bear is currently serving a 21 month prison sentence for sharing a ‘revenge porn’ video of them having sex
• Former Love Island winner and footballer’s daughter Bianca Gascoigne 
• Geordie Shore’s Marnie Simpson
• Towie’s Bobby Norris 
•  Love Island’s Ovie Soko
• Inside The Factory presenter Cherry Healey