Does actor Melissa Tkautz make it through the punishing challenges assigned by SAS Australia chief instructor Ant Middleton?

Why would a glamorous actor, ambassador, singer, and cast member of The Real Housewives of Sydney put herself through the gruelling SAS course?

"After I said yes, that's when I thought 'what am I thinking?'," says former '90s soap E Street favourite and pop princess Melissa Tkautz on agreeing to take part in SAS Australia.

"I only had three weeks to train because I was in lockdown. I walk on my treadmill every day, and do some weights and stuff, but not full on."

Joining Tkautz in this series of the punishing recruit challenge are: lawyer and winner of The Bachelor's Tim Robards' heart Anna Heinrich, 34; former Sydney Swans tough guy Barry Hall, 44; retired Brisbane Bronco and Australian representative rugby league player Darius Boyd, 34; ANBF Australasian female super-bantamweight champion boxer Ebanie Bridges, 35; retired Olympian Rugby 7s gold medalist Ellia Green, 28; retired multiple Olympic swimming medalist Geoff Huegill, 42; self confessed reality TV junkie Locky Gilbert, 32; Olympic silver medalist in diving Melissa Wu, 29; 2018 Commonwealth super-welterweight title holder Michael Zerafa, 29; Australian Jillaroo and Wallaroo and NRLW Brisbane Bronco Millie Boyle, 23; Home and Away favourite Orpheus Pledger, 28; comedian and TV producer Pauly Fenech, 51; motorsport presenter Riana Crehan, 34; convicted drug dealer Richard Buttrose, 49; model Simone Holtznagel, 28; and AFL commentator and former player Wayne Carey, 50.

Obviously there are some serious contenders among this group.

"It was just crazy, I still can't believe I said yes when they asked me."

Although she was familiar with everybody, she was closest to Fenech, with whom she had worked on his shows Fat Pizza and Housos.

As the promos for the show have clearly shown, Tkautz is pretty much a trembling, crying mess from the outset.

"Everyone was scared for me, they were all so supportive.

"Even the DS [directing staff led by chief instructor Ant Middleton and returning DS Ollie Ollerton, joined for the first time by retired US Navy SEAL Clint Emerson and former British Special Forces soldier Dean Stott] were wanting me to do really well. They were all very kind."

"I'd been doing Google home school with Ayla, who is 11 and could do it pretty much on her own and my son Cuba who is eight and needed me to work with him. I needed something else to do so I thought 'why not?'."

Tkautz says she had seen the show before and knew it was high adrenaline action.

"I love watching it. You know and you don't know what you will be up against."

As past series have shown, there is little comfort and lots of exposure, not just to danger and the elements.

"I was standing there in my bra and underpants and it was intimidating," she says after being ordered to strip alongside all the recruits.

"Being on fire, how terrifying. When they said 'I am setting you on fire', I was in shock.

"I felt if I die, people are going to see I died trying. Isn't that crazy, it's absolutely nuts.

"I was so happy just to make it to the barracks.

"It was weird, sometimes I was freezing cold when I was wet - it was awful. Sometimes it was hot. There's no comfort, no robe. I think the first day I ate a piece a broccoli and a piece of carrot."

At some point all the recruits are put through an interrogation.

"I found it quite daunting, I was very dehydrated. It's such a surreal, weird situation. You feel like you are having an out of body experience.

"Ant was so lovely, I think they [the DS] knew I was the fish out of water. He is the nicest guy, they kind of took me under their wing."

Would she do it again if asked?

"I don't like to say no. If I had to time to train, I think I would do it again. It's such a full-on experience."

More than 200 crew work on the series, but recruits are not allowed to communicate with them.

Fifty-seven cameras and six drones are used to film the series.