Who is Mark Billingham from SAS: Who Dares Wins?

MARK Billigham is a decorated war hero who took his years of battlefield experience to put contestants through their paces on SAS: Who Dares Wins.

But what else has he done in his long career? Here's what we know.

Who is Mark Billingham?

Mark "Billy" Billingham, 55, shot to fame as one of the stars of Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins where he is an instructor to the recruits.

The decorated war hero spent 27 years in the SAS.

During his time in the elite unit he received an MBE for leading the mission in Iraq to rescue a Brit hostage.

He also won the Queen's Commendation for Bravery after capturing an IRA sniper by using himself as bait.

Mark was one of the highest ranks in the SAS – Warrant Officer Class 1.

Billy is expected to stay on the C4 show after Ant Middleton's axing.

After leaving the SAS Mark was a bodyguard for Tom Cruise, Kate Moss and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Talking about his time protecting Brangelina and their brood he said he practically “fathered” the children.

He told The Sun that he worked for the celebrity couple for 18 months as part of their security detail.

In the interview, he said: "The biggest concern for them was the kidnapping of the kids, it’s all about money.

"Angie and Brad are very worried about who goes near the children."

Mark revealed how how comfortable the celebrity couple seemed with him being around their kids.

He said: "It was clear from the start we had a great chemistry and they trusted me with the kids.

"We got very close, I was living with them all the time.

"I could take the kids anywhere I wanted to on my own. No one else was allowed to do that."

Mark added that whenever he wanted to bring in additional security, those team members were not allowed close contact with the children.

He also said that he took the kids swimming and that he 'fathered them, basically'.

During one incident, the couple’s son, Maddox was Mark’s sole responsibility while Angelina took a UN ambassadorial trip to Iraq.