HE spent decades risking his life on top secret military ops, literally staring down the barrel of a gun.
But it was being glared at by a stranger at the airport that truly spooked SAS: Who Dares Wins star Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham.
The former SAS hardman, 58, opted to confront the huge stranger eyeing him up in Poughkeepsie Airport, New York, only to be stunned by his reply.
He had been recognised for his role on the hit Channel 4 show, for which he is staying as the Chief Instructor for series six of the celeb version.
“This man was twice the size of me and his response to me being myself wasn’t what I expected,” Billy told The Sun in an exclusive interview.
“Instead of a compliment, I got told I was a ‘horrible, nasty little man’. At least he knew who I was!”
Usually, being spotted out and about is a positive experience for Billy– and the show has even reached far-flung corners of the world.
“I got recognised for SAS out in the Congo when I was helping to train the anti-poaching teams,” he said.
“We’d got into an old battered up Land Rover to meet a tour guide who spoke English.
“He was driving and turned around to say, ‘ah, Billy from SAS: Who Dares Wins’. It was surreal.
“It is weird being recognised now, but you get used to it and it’s fine.
“It’s odd for my mate – who know me as one of the guys – when people come up to me randomly to talk and take selfies because they’ve seen me on TV.”
Billy has been involved with the show since series two of the civilian version in 2016, working as a member of the directing staff who are tasked with getting the public and celebs up to their elite military standards.
He reckons he was the natural fit to take over from former US Recon Marine Rudy Reyes as top dog, because he has the most experience out of the rest of the former soldiers.
Plus, he’s the oldest.
Stepping into the top spot was easy, but unfortunately, his second stint in charge has presented him with the worst contestant he’s ever witnessed on the show.
Billy said: “I won’t spoil it, but one of the guys on this series shouldn’t have bothered signing up.
“He had the worst attitude I’d ever seen. Barely bothered to try to apply himself to anything.
“It was a waste of everyone’s time, him being there. He was a complete waste of space in my life.”
It’s about the individual journey, and Fatima was an absolute f***ing legend to me.
Billy Billingham
The series, which will air later this year, includes Anthony Ogogo, Chris Robshaw, John Barrowman, Ovie Soko, Pete Wicks and Tez Ilyas taking part.
But Billy won’t give a clue as to which bloke ground his gears.
“It won’t take viewers long to work out who I mean when the series comes out,” he teased.
“If you’ve got a bad attitude, we don’t want you on our show. Go and do something else.”
The Sun revealed last year that John Barrowman quit the series after less than an hour of filming, making it the show’s fastest ever exit.
A source said: “Most of the stars were shocked when after 30 minutes John said he did not want to take part any longer.
“He left pretty much then and there. It was all a bit strange and naturally, the producers who make the show weren’t best impressed to see one of their biggest stars turning on their heel and quitting before an hour was up.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Fatima Whitbread, who was 60 at the time she appeared on series four of the celebrity spin-off.
It was a waste of everyone’s time, him being there. He was a complete waste of space in my life.
Billy Billingham
“She had such a tough mental attitude and gave everything a go,” Billy raves.
“Fatima was doing it all with an injury, but never said a word.
“She turned all the negativity into positive energy and showed what the show is all about.
“Fatima went out of her way to help other people get through the tasks.
Huge change to show
By Rod McPhee, TV Editor
For the past three years the Celebrity version of SAS Who Dares Wins has been filmed in a string of incredible international locations.
They include Vietnam, Jordan and New Zealand – where the upcoming series is set – but for filming this year the Channel 4 show is going to the slightly less tropical destination of Wales.
Not only has it been used before by the show for its punishing conditions, it’s also a far cheaper alternative to flying dozens of contestants and crew abroad.
A TV insider said: “Belts have been tightening for some time at C4, which is going through financial dire straits at the moment.
“ So it’s no surprise that the current plan will see SAS Who Dares Wins stay in Wales this year – which will be a lot less costly.
“Though it won’t be any less challenging for the contestants – in fact it might be harsher than some foreign climes.”
Channel 4 have already axed the civilian version of SAS Who Dares Wins, but retained the celebrity spin-off which got higher ratings despite starting later.
“SAS: Who Dares Wins is all about honesty, integrity, and self-motivation. She had all that.
“We want everyone to give 100 per cent. None of us expect a 60-year-old to be doing everything the same as a 25-year-old.
“It’s about the individual journey, and Fatima was an absolute f***ing legend to me.”
A-list clients
While Billy is now used to being on TV and standing in front of a camera, for a long time he found it more frightening than staring down the business end of a gun.
After leaving special forces, the Brummie moved into the bodyguard business and looked after some world’s top celebrities, including Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
“It was intimidating,” he admits.
“I was used to being under threat of being shot or blown up from the military. But having someone putting a camera in your face and stealing your image and personality, that was daunting.
“You never knew where that photograph was going to end up or who was going to see it. It felt really personal.”
But it gave him a chance to see how fame really worked from the inside.
He claims that many of the A-list clients he worked with worked hard behind the scenes and didn’t take their fame and fortune for granted.
Thankfully, Billy is now far more comfortable being filmed. It has made him a star in his own right, but he hasn’t forgotten his military roots.
In fact, he was reminded of his early career when former Special Forces Operator and Royal Marine Mountain Leader Chris Oliver, 41, joined the directing staff.
I know the military saved me and hundreds of other kids just like me
Billy Billingham
Billy said: “He reminds me of a younger version of myself. He brings so much enthusiasm, energy, and courage to the show.
“It was a bit strange when he joined, as I actually trained him. But even back then, he stood out because of his good attitude.
“It’s a pleasure to work with him again. I think he’s made the show better.”
Military pride
For Billy, joining the Armed Forces allowed him to turn his life around, and he doesn’t think the public realise all the good the military does.
He readily admits to being a wayward child from a rough upbringing who struggled to find a purpose before signing up.
“I know the military saved me and hundreds of other kids just like me. I think it’s a shame that the good it does isn’t publicised enough,” he says.
“Joining up showed me that nothing was impossible, and having that structure and routine turned me into a really good person.
“There is this perception that the military is all about waging war, but it’s not.
“We have the best medics, the best communications, construction engineers, there are so many skill sets to the military.”
For that reason, Billy would love to see National Service brought back, as he believes it would give teens skills for life and a solid grounding for working life.
He’d also like to see more funding handed to the Armed Forces and care taken of veterans when they head back to civilian life.
Future hopes
Billy reckons most civilians would benefit from the grounding given by the Armed Forces, and that it would shape good people as a result.
It’s one of the reasons he is participating in BFBS Radio’s ‘Against All Odds’ series, as it highlights all the skills the military provides.
He’s taking part in a paintball game against 100 normal people in a bid to show anything is possible.
Billy told The Sun: “I think people learn a lot more from military people than they think.
“It’s nice to be able to remind them about all the good things we do, especially as a lot of people shun the military now.
“It turns people into a good version of themselves by teaching respect and discipline.
“Anything I can do to showcase what it’s really about and to get more young people involved, is something I absolutely have to do.”
Billy is working with BFBS Radio to mark the launch of its new UK radio line-up. You can listen to BFBS Radio in the UK on DAB+, bfbs.com/radio, the BFBS mobile app, and smart speakers.
