Schapelle Corby in SAS Australia cast

Seven has confirmed Schapelle Corby as one of the first five celebrities who cast in upcoming reality series SAS Australia.

Her casting comes despite the Corby family winning a defamation case against Seven in 2008 and sister Mercedes saying she was was “driven” out of Australia to live in Bali because of constant “harassment and stalking” by the Seven Network’s “agents”.

In 2014 Sunrise David Koch said of a network interview, “I reckon we should have nothing to do with her as a network… I totally disagree with paying a convicted drug smuggler $2 million.”

Now billed as a “former Bali inmate” Corby is joined by “comedian Merrick Watts, retired ironwoman Candice Warner, rugby star Nick Cummins and PR queen Roxy Jacenko.”

Other names to be confirmed include “a leading actor, a gold medallist, a model and one of Australia’s best sportsmen.”

All will be put through the SAS selection process by ex-Special Forces soldiers – Chief Instructor Ant Middleton and his Directing Staff (DS) Jason “Foxy” Fox, Ollie Ollerton and Mark “Billy” Billingham from the UK version of the series.

Seven’s Director of Programming Angus Ross said: “We have an absolutely killer celebrity cast who are all in for a shock. SAS Australia is no game – it is the toughest test. The course is brutal, and it doesn’t matter who you are or what you do there is no special treatment which makes for utterly engrossing television.”

Production moved to the Snowy Mountains after COVID put a stop to plans to film in New Zealand earlier this year. Sources indicate the UK team and relevant interstate participants all quarantined according to NSW regulations.

Chief Instructor Ant Middleton said: “There is no set mould for passing SAS selection. You need courage, determination, that never give up attitude but ultimately the strength of mind to carry on, even when faced with your demons and biggest fears.”

The series is produced by Screentime, a Banijay Group company, based on a Minnow Films format and due to screen in October.