Former England footballer Kieron Dyer was in tears on Sunday’s episode of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins as he spoke about the sexual abuse he suffered as a child and vowed that he was ‘not a victim no more’.
The 41-year-old had channelled his aggression into the ‘redman’ challenge, which saw the celebrity recruits in hand-to-hand combat against a padded member of the DS (Directing Staff).
As the contestants were coached to try and switch the anger on and then off, straight after the challenge, Ant Middleton voiced worries over Kieron as he noted afterwards: ‘You have to pull him back in.’
The sportsman had admitted earlier in the show that had ‘a real f**k you attitude’ and was adamant that no one would ever ‘take advantage of me’.
As Ant and Mark Billingham pulled him in for a chat, the instructors probed him as to what had been going through his mind.
Kieron was reluctant at first to open up, as he said he ‘wanted to be judged for his clean slate’ rather than ‘a sob story’ or any of his accomplishments.
However, he then shared his history as he spoke of the family member who had sexually abused him as an 11-year-old, and the impact it had had on his life.
‘This monster, this f**king pr*ck, turned me into a monster, and for the rest of my life, the amount of people I’ve hurt because of these personality traits, like family – Dad, Mum, wife…’ he said.
As he became tearful, however, the footballer revealed the empowering mindset he was embracing.
‘I always had the mindset of, “You know what, because I’m a victim, this is the way I am.”
‘And I’m just saying, from today, when I come out of here, I am not a victim of sexual abuse no more.
‘Because every time I’m a victim he wins, every time I hurt my family, and they’re victims, he wins. I’m not a victim no more.’
Mark praised Kieron as ‘a f**king brave man’ and both instructors reassured the star that he had it in him to complete the course.
‘Out of everyone out there, listen to me, right now, you f**king can because this [Kieron’s head] is in charge,’ stated Ant, who also praised him for giving ‘100%’.
The ex-athlete then shared that he was ‘making ground but I still have issues to overcome’.
Unfortunately, Keiron then collapsed while on watchtower detail at night, as he struggled to breathe. He had sustained an injury to his ribs in an earlier task, which had been looked over by the medic.
The following morning, Ant confirmed to the recruits that Keiron was okay and had ‘got his feet up and is enjoying a nice, warm bed’, but had been medically withdrawn from the course due to a respiratory issue.
Singer Alexandra Burke was also in tears during the episode as she spoke about how her mother, who she labelled her ‘purpose’ and her ‘secret weapon’, had ‘died in her arms’.
She had failed two challenges in succession but was told to ‘keep her eye on the ball’ and keep going, as she admitted: ‘There’s a voice in my mind – and that’s my mum’s – that says, “I didn’t raise a quitter.”’
Four contestants now remain on the course alongside Alexandra: rower James Cracknell, Paralympian Aled Davis, Love Island star Wes Nelson and presenter Ore Oduba.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins continues on Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4.
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