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Ant Middleton dumped from SAS UK series

Headed to Oz soon, SAS Australia instructor is dumped by Channel 4 over personal conduct.

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SAS Australia instructor Ant Middleton has been cut from the original UK series SAS: Who Dares Wins after 5 seasons by broadcaster Channel 4.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: “Ant Middleton will not be taking part in future series of SAS: Who Dares Wins.

“Following a number of discussions Channel 4 and Minnow Films have had with him in relation to his personal conduct it has become clear that our views and values are not aligned and we will not be working with him again.”

Middleton said: “After five years on the show it just felt like I had achieved everything I could with the format.

“There’s so many other formats that I am working on now that feel more suited to who I am today.

“It’s been a brilliant experience being on that show but I’m honestly happy to let some new blood come in and put their own stamp on it.”

The Sun reports Middleton made headlines a year ago when he posted a “tough-love” video message on social media urging his followers to carry on as normal despite coronavirus.

As the world rapidly went into lockdown, he faced a backlash and posted an apology.

There was another backlash in June after he posted a video of violence at anti-racism protests in London.

He tweeted: “The extreme left against the extreme right. BLM and EDL are not welcome on our streets, absolute scum. What a great example you are to your future generation. Bravo.”

He later defended to video saying, “It was the protesters fighting and violence and rioting in broad daylight. Everything I fought for abroad to stop happening on our shores.”

In 2013, as a result of a “nightclub bust-up” he was convicted of the unlawful wounding of one police officer, PC Christopher Brooksbank, and common assault upon a second, PC Katherine Alison. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, of which he served five months. He later said, “It was alcohol-fuelled. Once I realised what I’d done, I thought, ‘Oh my God’ … I’ve regretted it ever since.”

It isn’t clear what has triggered the latest move by Channel 4 (he has already filmed S6).

Middleton is due to arrive in Australia shortly ahead of filming SAS Australia for Seven in April.

A Seven spokesperson said today, “Ant Middleton and his fellow DS (Directing Staff), Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham, Jason Fox and Ollie Ollerton, will all be returning for the second season of SAS Australia which is currently in pre-production.”

Next week Seven screens Ant Middleton: Straight Talking with Rebel Wilson.

6 Responses

  1. I didn’t like the adverts for the show. My comments are not aimed at him directly, but in the current societal awareness for bullying (online, workplace), the #metoo movement and the need to be more culturally aware and respectful, it astounds me that reality shows reinforce “bad behaviour” in the race for ratings glory. I haven’t seen MAFS or MKR, but these shows are examples where the adverts have showcased this bullying behaviour. It’s about time it stopped!

  2. SAS Australia is a reality TV show isn’t it?, I’m not sure how the producers of these shows can fully control their own or their companies political agendas when a certain degree of social tension, controversy and adversity is required to keep viewers interested.
    Ant Middleton is ex military I presume, warts and all, so his past military character profile is part of what SAS Australia was arguably wanting to attract audiences, perhaps the producers ought to rename the whole show and remove all its military connections, spurious or not.

  4. Just appalling from Seven to keep this person on the show. Didn’t want to see the first season now knowing what sort of person he is don’t want to see the next season either. How can this be a fit person to be telling people how to live their lives?

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