Neighbours actor Ryan Moloney was compelled to leave the gruelling Channel 4 reality show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins following a distressing mental health episode during filming. The 46-year-old star, famous for his three-decade role as Jarrod 'Toadfish' Rebecchi, became the seventh recruit to exit the course in the latest episode aired on Sunday night.
Uncontrollable Symptoms Force Intervention
The father of two was seen struggling profoundly in camp, a situation exacerbated by his recent diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Moloney openly described his mental state, confessing to fellow contestants and cameras that he was 'mentally spiralling'. He expressed confusion over whether he had taken his medication and even misplaced basic items like his knife and fork.
In an emotional moment, contestant Dani Dyer asked if this was the worst he had felt, prompting Moloney to break down. 'It's uncontrollable,' he admitted as Dyer rushed to comfort him. In a separate interview, Moloney explained the lifelong impact of his undiagnosed condition: 'Before I got diagnosed with ADHD there was a lot of confusion as to my life and how I managed things... My brain does not switch off. I could be absolutely dog tired and I do not go to sleep.'
Medical Expert Called as Instructors Show Concern
The show's directing staff, including former Special Forces operator Jason 'Foxy' Fox, monitored the situation with growing concern via live footage from the barracks. Recognising he was clearly 'struggling', they called in the programme's medical expert, Dr Gareth, for an urgent assessment.
Foxy later reflected on the difficulty of the situation, stating: 'I was thinking how can we help him? And we can't really because it's not like he's thinking wrong, he's got an actual issue.' Dr Gareth analysed that Moloney lacked the necessary coping 'tools' for the chaotic environment, warning that continuing could be 'detrimental' and lead to negative experiences.
Foxy emphasised the critical importance of mental resilience in special forces operations, noting: 'Good mental health in the special forces is imperative because the whole thing is hinged on your ability to operate under extreme mental pressure.'
A Heartbreaking But Necessary Withdrawal
Following the medical consultation, Foxy called Moloney out of the living quarters. The actor then made the difficult decision to voluntarily withdraw from the challenge. 'I would love to be available for all of the challenge...but I am going to withdraw,' Moloney stated.
Instructor Foxy supported his choice, offering compassionate words: 'I think it is the right move because ultimately this is just a course. You've got the rest of your life to embrace. But please hold your head high, you've been awesome.' The incident highlights the intense psychological demands of the show and the very real mental health challenges faced by participants, even those in the public eye.
