James Argent reveals ‘breakdown’ after SAS Who Dares Wins – and why he’s changing his name after show
JAMES Argent has revealed he felt broken after taking part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins – and he’s been inpired to change his name.
The ex-Towie star, who used to weigh 27stone, said taking part in the tough Channel 4 series left him in state of shock for sometime afterwards and it took a while for it all to sink in.
Reflecting on his stint as a SAS recruit – three years after being unable to tie his own shoe laces due to his weight – he said: “I remember just having a breakdown when I come out.
“I remember it was just a relief, that I was out, and it was a feeling I had for a good 24 hours that I felt it was crazy. It all felt a bit mad.
“But after that, I was quite proud of myself.”
James, 35, continued: “The fact that eight people went before me and I made the last eight, and the fact that two years ago I would never have even been considered for the show or be able to tie my own shoe laces.
“I passed medical to do it, to be able to compete and make it five out seven days.
“So I was really, really proud of that. It’s given me a perspective of how far I’ve come, and it also gave me a perspective of I can still improve and I can still keep going.”
The star, who now weighs a healthy 14 stone, used to be afraid to leave his house in the daylight, instead waiting until it got dark so he was not recognised.
He said at the time his shocking weight gain left best friend Mark Wright and Mark’s footballer brother Josh, who run a fitness company together, in tears when they stepped in to help their childhood pal.
Things have changed a lot since then, with James adding: “I might challenge Mark Wright for a marathon race to see who can run a marathon quicker. I reckon I could beat him. How about that? I’ve got some SAS grit now!”
He’s now ready to shed his former image and said Celeb SAS has given him the courage to move forward.
James said: “I went in as Arg and came out as James.
“I answer to either, however, if I’m to meet someone for the first time, or even if someone knows who I am, I’m introducing myself, I’ll always say that my name’s James.
“I feel like now, for example, if I go on to other shows and I’m introduced as what’s my name and who am I? I don’t say, ‘I’m Arg from TOWIE, I’m Arg from reality TV’ I always say I’m James and I’m a wedding singer.
“Because that’s who I am now in 2023.
“I don’t pass myself as anything else. I never wanted to be a reality TV star on TV. I love it and I’ve done well from it and I’ve enjoyed it, had amazing experiences.
“But I’ve always wanted to be a wedding singer and have my own party band and have my own function band and do that for a living. And that’s what I’m doing now. So I’m finally do what I’ve always dreamed of doing. “
Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins is on Sundays, C4, 9pm.