The remaining recruits are ambushed and handed over to interrogators for questioning. They must endure psychological and physical punishments designed to break their will while sticking to their cover story. The end is near but will the final seven prove magnificent or not?

The Directing Staff challenge the remaining 11 recruits to stand up and be counted on the fourth phase of the course, as they face a hostage rescue mission hoping to spring two abducted recruits. The second leadership challenge is a punishing head to head team ammunition supply race, requiring grit and determination to get the job over the line.

The group members are tasked with an energy-sapping uphill hike, before being confronted with a 200ft abseil into a dark bat-infested cave. Later in a bustling civilian market, the recruits must track down an armed gunman on the loose among innocent civilians. Will they be able to locate the target and take them down?

A recruit becomes stranded at the top of a 215-foot waterfall, ending up pinned to the rocks and terrified of drowning. The incident reminds instructor Billy Billingham of situations when he as lost fellow operatives on similar missions. Later, a breach of camp discipline is punished with a relentless series of extreme physical tasks, followed by intensive hand-to-hand combat training sessions.

The eighth series of the reality show takes its inspiration from the jungle phase of SAS selection, which is notoriously the most gruelling phase of the SAS' training regime. The first episode sees the 20 candidates challenged to control their fear with an exercise carried out 50 feet above the ground, before facing one of the most dangerous infiltration methods used by the SAS - a waterfall abseil.