Ant Middleton axed from SAS: Who Dares Wins after clash with Channel 4 bosses who say they’ll never work with him again
HARDMAN Ant Middleton has been axed from his role on SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The 40-year-old star - who launched the hit Channel 4 show in 2015 - is understood to have left the show after a series of high profile gaffes.
Ant was informed of the sudden decision today, weeks ahead of the planned start date for the latest series.
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.”
Tonight Ant 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.”
Veteran Ant resigned from his role as the Royal Navy’s Chief Cadet this summer, after bosses were left unhappy over his now-deleted tweet about Black Lives Matter protests.
A TV insider said producers realised what a great asset Ant was to the show but felt he had made one mistake too many.
Filming has already completed on the sixth UK series of SAS: Who Dares Wins which will feature the former SBS star.
Ant will also star in a celebrity special this autumn. However he will not be invited to return in 2022.
Ant hit headlines in March 2020, when 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 more social media backlash in June after Ant 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."
However, he later defended himself, telling The Sun: “If you have half a brain cell you will realise what I was talking about.
“It was the protesters fighting and violence and rioting in broad daylight.
“Everything I fought for abroad to stop happening on our shores.”