Report: SAS turns off showbiz careers of instructors

SAS: Australia instructors including Ant Middleton are again attracting headlines in the UK in reports that suggest the Special Forces is blacklisting them from appearing at memorials, medal ­ceremonies and dinners.

The Mirror reports that exploiting heroics for showbiz is attracting the wrong kind of people to recruitment.

A former senior officer said: “The mystique has been gradually eroded by books, films, TV documentaries and shows like SAS: Who Dares Wins (UK title).

“There are even Facebook and Instagram groups posting pictures of special forces troops on operations, weapons and tactics.”

Currently anyone in the Special Air Service has to sign a legally enforceable confidentiality agreement to stop the publication of covert missions without senior officers’ permission.

The ex-chief said: “We often have the wrong type of person wanting to join. There have been some soldiers turning up for their first day of SAS selection saying that if they pass, they’ll serve for three years and then go on TV.

“They are joining the SAS because they want to become ­celebrities and ­millionaires.”

Seven’s next season features Ant Middleton, Ollie Ollerton, former British Special Forces soldier Dean Stott and retired US Navy SEAL Clint Emerson. DS Mark “Billy” Billingham, Jason “Foxy” Fox continue in the UK production.