Kevin Rudd’s former bodyguard Gary Fahey joins SAS Australia

A “fallen cop” who was the head of security for former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will battle it out on the next season of SAS Australia.

A “fallen cop” who was the head of security for former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will battle it out on the next season of SAS Australia.

Gary Fahey, 44, is among the 14 everyday contestants to take on a condensed version of the gruelling SAS selection course when the series kicks off on Monday.

Fahey is perhaps the most controversial of inclusions in the cast given his ongoing struggles with gambling that saw him squander $1.7 million.

Some $45,000 of that cash was taxpayer money on his AFP-issued Citibank Mastercard.

“I was in the Federal Police for eighteen-and-a-half years,” Fahey said in a TV promo for the new series. “I was leader of the Prime Minister’s protection team. I had a loving family and I lost everything I had.”

Former Australian Federal Police officer Gary Fahey.

Fahey was responsible for protecting Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Chief instructor Ant Middleton said SAS Australia would be “some kind of rehab” for Fahey.

“He is physically unprepared,” Middleton said. “He is out of his depth.”

The new season is the first civilian series of the reality show. Sam Burgess earlier this week passed selection in the second celebrity version, while Sabrina Frederick, Nick Cummins and Merrick Watts passed in season one.

Fahey initially faced 64 charges of fraud but he ultimately pleaded guilty to one charge of fraud and the rest were dropped as a result of his plea. He served eight months of community service for his crime.

At the peak of his career, Fahey had top secret government clearances, rubbed shoulders at the highest-levels of government and travelled with the AFP Commissioner around the world attending “Five-Eyes” intelligence and law enforcement briefings.

Former AFP officer Gary Fahey (right) with Kevin Russ and Therese Rein.

Gary Fahey will appear as one of the contestants on the new season of SAS Australia.

At the same time, Fahey was using gambling as a stress reliever — punting on horses, greyhounds, and harness racing with bets anywhere from $10 to $10,000 a time.

Fahey now owns a gym and helps others struggling with their mental health.

“I lost my career, my reputation,” he said, breaking down as he revealed: “I lost my son 10 days ago; I told him that I was coming here and I made him a promise that I wouldn’t quit. I made him a promise so he can be proud of his dad.”

Others in the cast of 14 include dating coach Sarah Jeavons, bodybuilder Bassim Yaghi, teacher Kellie McDonald, dancer James Fenwick, rapper Isabella Rositano and tradie Luke Stanton.

“It is going to take a very special individual to get to this end of this course,” Middleton said. “Pain will be constant and we will weed out the weak. They’re going to realise very quickly why it’s called Hell Week.”