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SAS Australia: Seven’s hit new show smashes the ratings beating The Block and Junior MasterChef

The West Australian
VideoConvicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby and former iron woman Candice Warner speak about why they joined Seven’s new show SAS Australia

The premiere episode of SAS Australia has proved a ratings hit for Channel Seven, with 834,000 viewers nationally flocking to see celebrities and sports stars endure a series of gruelling challenges.

The reality show, featuring convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby and PR queen Roxy Jacenko, easily beat Nine’s The Block and Ten’s Junior MasterChef.

Nationwide, SAS Australia drew in 834,000 viewers, while The Block brought in 783,000.

Despite the revamped main series of the franchise being a ratings hit for Ten earlier this year, Junior MasterChef only managed to hit 454,000 viewers last night.

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In Perth, the SAS premiere was wildly popular, with 149,000 tuning in, compared to 68,000 for The Block and 36,000 for Junior Masterchef.

SAS Australia’s celebrity recruits.
Camera IconSAS Australia’s celebrity recruits. Credit: Channel Seven

The show also took social media by storm with the official hashtag #SASAustralia trending at number one nationally on Twitter last night, with ‘Roxy’ and ‘Schapelle Corby’ trending too.

Seven’s Director of Programming Angus Ross said the show put the “real back in reality television”.

“It’s disruptive, different and packs an emotional punch – and the audience loved it. We look forward to sharing the journey of our killer cast of recruits over the coming weeks to see who’s got what it takes to pass the toughest test. Trust me – you’ve never seen anything like this before.”

In the real world, qualifying for the real SAS selection process requires at least five years of distinguished military service.

Even after that, the failure rate is around 90 per cent.

With no eliminations or evictions, contestants on the show will choose whether to leave and will voluntarily withdraw from the process.

Roxy Jacenko voluntary withdraws from SAS Australia.
Camera IconRoxy Jacenko voluntary withdraws from SAS Australia. Credit: NIGEL WRIGHT

After entering the course with a fractured pelvis and hip, controversial entrant Jacenko bowed out last night, saying she had been pushed to her physical limits.

Meanwhile, Corby was the first to be interrogated, when she spoke about her infamous arrest and subsequent jail term, which lead to her having a mental breakdown.

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