SAS: Who Dares Wins became embroiled in a religious and sexist argument after her first Muslim candidate claimed she was prevented from doing her best because of her “ insensitivity ” to her faith and gender.
Shireen Khan, 28, said she was worried about contracting hypothermia after refusing to undress in front of the cameras and her classmates because of her Islamic beliefs.
The candidate also complained that she was not given halal food and became constipated after being unable to use a bucket as a toilet while men were present.
Row: SAS: Who Dares Wins became embroiled in a religious and sexist argument after her first Muslim candidate claimed she was barred from doing her best because of her ‘insensitivity’ to her faith and her sex.
Ms Khan also claimed former Channel 4 special forces instructors were ‘condescending’ and ‘condescending’ after calling her a ‘cupcake’ and ‘gym bunny’ ‘during grueling challenges.
The candidate, from north London, is taking part in the show’s first episode this Sunday, which was filmed in the Scottish countryside on what is billed as the most difficult course since the program began.
This is the second major controversy to hit the show in recent months after host Ant Middleton was sacked in March for his “ personal conduct. ”
It had previously been revealed that the TV personality had called Black Lives Matter protesters “ absolute scum ” and urged people to “ carry on as usual ” and not change their ways amid the global Covid pandemic.
Complaints: Shireen Khan, 28, said she feared contracting hypothermia after refusing to undress in front of cameras and other candidates because of her Islamic beliefs.
He is featured in the upcoming series as he was sacked after filming ended.
Ms Khan told MailOnline: ‘Being on the show has been an amazing experience and something that will live with me forever. But I believe the cultural insensitivity to my Muslim faith and being a woman held me back.
“ After a mud challenge, the other contestants were comfortable undressing in front of each other and in front of the cameras, but as a Muslim I couldn’t do that.
“ I had to keep clothes wet which left me cold and shivering and I was afraid of getting hypothermia. I had to wait until I could change my clothes in private.
Present: The participant also complained that she was not given halal food and became constipated after being unable to use a bucket as a toilet while men were present.
‘The toilet was one of the two outer buckets and I couldn’t go properly during my time on set because the men were using a neighbor. Because of my culture, I wasn’t comfortable doing this. ”
To add to her woes over the hard-hitting program, Ms Khan said she was forced to eat vegetarian food because no halal options were available.
She added, “ I think there needs to be more diversity on the show and the only way to do that is to be more aware of cultural sensitivities.
“These are all obstacles that prevent people from diverse backgrounds from participating in Who Dares Wins and even joining the British armed forces.
Axed: This is the second major controversy to hit the show in recent months after host Ant Middleton was sacked in March for his ‘personal conduct’
“The program has had issues with Ant Middleton before, and I think Channel 4 needs to resolve the issues I’m raising.”
Businesswoman Ms Khan, who has three health clinics in London, claimed that in addition to her faith, her gender also played a role in her performance.
She was eliminated on day one after failing a challenge that involved climbing a mountain weighing 50kg, which left her severely bruised.
Ms Khan, who weighs 51kg, said: ‘What I was carrying should have been in proportion to my body weight. There were male competitors who weighed a lot more than that and it was a lot easier for them.
‘Boss’: Ms Khan also claimed former Channel 4 special forces instructors were ‘condescending’ and ‘condescending’ after calling her ‘cupcake’ and “ gym bunny ” during grueling challenges.
“As a woman who is not very heavy, this exercise was unfair and impossible to complete. The creators of programs have to take that sort of thing into account ”.
She also criticized the show’s instructors Jason Fox, Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham and Ant Middleton.
Ms Khan added, “Being called a ‘cupcake’ and a ‘gym bunny’ is very condescending and condescending.
“I wanted to tell them that I am much tougher than you think. Even getting to this stage of the show is very difficult because it takes a lot of mental and physical strength. ”
Ouch: She was knocked out on day one after failing a challenge that involved climbing a mountain with a weight of 50kg, which left her severely bruised.
Grueling challenges: Ms Khan, who weighs 51kg, said: ‘What I was wearing should have been in proportion to my body weight’ (one of her bruises from the challenges)
She revealed that in order to qualify for the first episode, she had to undergo eight strenuous physical tests and gave up her job so that she could train three times a day to prepare for it.
Despite her experience, Ms Khan said she had no regrets about appearing on the Channel 4 show.
She added: ‘The experience of what the SAS is going through has left me with nothing but admiration for them and the British armed forces as a whole for the work they do in protecting our country.
“ It was a real honor to be on the show, but it’s a shame there aren’t more Muslims and other communities on it. ”
Performance: Businesswoman Ms Khan, who has three health clinics in London, claimed that in addition to her faith, her gender also played a role in her performance.
MailOnline has contacted Channel 4 for a response.
In March it was revealed that Ant Middleton had been banned from the UK series, he will still be working on the Australian version of the show.
A Channel 4 spokesperson told MailOnline at the time: ‘Ant Middleton will not be appearing in the upcoming SAS series: Who Dares Wins.
“ As a result of a number of discussions Channel 4 and Minnow Films have had with him regarding his personal conduct, it has become clear that our views and values are not aligned and that we will no longer be working with him. ”
Speaking about his exit, Middleton claimed he was fired from SAS: Who Dares Wins due to ‘head buttings’ with the team after saying it had become ‘more of a reality show’ ‘.
Role: In March it was revealed that Ant Middleton had been banned from the UK series, he will still be working on the Australian version of the show