Ant Middleton is AXED by Channel 4 and will no longer present SAS: Who Dares Wins

1

View
comments

Ant Middleton has been dropped by Channel 4 due to his ‘personal conduct’, with the station claiming they will not work with him again. 

His departure comes months after Ant sparked controversy by referring to Black Lives Matter protesters as ‘absolute scum’, and urging people to ‘carry on as normal’ and not change their habits amid the global Covid pandemic. 

A spokesperson for Channel 4 told MailOnline: ‘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.’

Following the statement, the 40-year-old adventurer, who found fame as the host of SAS: Who Dares Wins, took to social media and vowed to ‘stay positive’. 

Ant’s axing by Channel 4 comes after he sparked controversy by referring to Black Lives Matter protesters as ‘absolute scum’ last June.

According to The Mirror, Ant has had further issues with the broadcaster over his views since then.

Ant took to social media on Monday and confirmed he would no longer be hosting SAS: Who Dares Wins, but said he was excited about the future. 

He wrote: ‘Hi guys, I’ve got some news which is that after 5 incredible years I’ve decided it’s time to move on from SAS Who Dares Wins UK. 

‘Big respect to my fellow DS – its been a journey I’ll never forget. Thanks to everyone that took part and made the show what it is. Really excited about the future and what’s coming this year. Stay positive.’ 

Ant is said to have learned of Channel 4’s decision to drop him on Monday. 

Two series of SAS with the former soldier have already been filmed and will air this year but planned future series will not.  

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ant Middleton for comment.  

The TV presenter was removed from Soccer Aid last August over fears his involvement would offend ethnic minority players.  

Ant was also criticised last year for some of his posts about the coronavirus pandemic, saying in March he would carry on with life as usual during the outbreak.

Ant was reportedly forced to quit his role as the Royal Navy’s Chief Cadet after just nine months, after his controversial ‘scum’ tweet about Black Lives Matter protesters.

The TV tough guy, who took on the role in November, was said to have left his bosses furious after posting the since-deleted tweet, amid protests over racial injustice after the death of George Floyd in the US.

On June 14, Ant tweeted: ‘The extreme left against the extreme right. When did two wrongs make a right. It was only a matter of time. BLM and EDL are not welcome on our streets, absolute scum. What a great example you are to your future generation. Bravo.’

The tweet was in response to a video which claimed to be of ‘BLM/Antifa agitator hunting lone veterans and football lads in packs’. 

Ant subsequently apologised, releasing a video message where he said: ‘I’d just like to clarify a tweet I’d put out at the weekend and deleted straight away once I’d re-read it and realised that it could cause offence.

‘I put out a tweet or retweeted a video of the violence, the terror and chaos that was happening on the streets of London.

‘Within that tweet I mentioned the BLM and EDL and the word ‘scum’. At no point was I calling the BLM scum and comparing the two organisations. I want to make that really, really clear. 

‘The word scum was used to describe the people in the video that were violent, that were causing terror on the streets of London and setting a bad example for our future generations.’ 

He further clarified his comments in an interview with The Mirror, saying:  ‘On Saturday night, I made comments about the violence breaking out across our streets. 

‘While I remain dismayed at these actions, I am horrified to realise that my wording could be misconstrued. I did not mean to say that BLM are scum, or to imply that BLM and the EDL are equivalent.

‘I was trying to make a comment about violent protesters of any kind who I despise. I accept that my tweet was inappropriate and offensive and would like to apologise unconditionally. I am anti-racist, anti-hate and anti-violence.

‘I believe in the right to protest, but change must come about through peaceful and legal means.’  

In June, Channel 4 had set out a ‘new and clear commitment’ to be an anti-racist organisation and said Ant’s tweet ‘in no way represent the views of Channel 4’. 

In March the former solider took to Instagram to announce that he was continuing on with life as usual during the outbreak and ended his video recording with the terse statement: ‘F**k COVID-19.’  

Ant revealed once lockdown hit his post ‘crashed’, as followers turned on him for encouraging people to go about their business.

Ant later admitted that his comments were wrong and told Good Morning Britain hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: ‘I went from hero to zero’.

Explaining that he felt ‘sheltered’ from the virus when he made the comments and never expected the global outbreak of the deadly virus. 

He said: ‘Some of my controversial quotes on social media were in the moment. I was in New Zealand sheltered from the coronavirus. 

‘When it comes to a global pandemic which I didn’t know was going to happen, that came and bit me in my behind. Sometimes I get it wrong and put my hand and up said look my information was wrong.’   

‘Everyone was like, Ant we agree with you and then lockdown came and the pandemic hit and that Instagram post was outdated, it crashed really quickly. I went from hero to zero.’ 

Ant insisted he was happy to own up to his mistake after receiving online backlash over his comments made at the start of the pandemic.

He said: ‘Failure is an everyday part of life. It’s not a nasty word. I’ll fail till the day I die and so will everyone else. Once you acknowledge it, you can turn it around. The moment you shy away from it, this negative circle will keep coming.’

‘When it comes to hardship, that’s what builds resilience. Sometimes we do come second third or maybe last. You get resilient from that.’ 

‘To ignore that in schools, it’s unhealthy. It doesn’t prepare you for everyday life. You’re wrapped up in cotton wool. When you’re expected to stand on your own two feet, they’re not prepared for it.’ 

Ant previously admitted he had made a mistake with his post and deleted it because it contradicted government advice and he ‘wouldn’t want people to come across that now’. 

In March, Ant uploaded an apology video and confessed: I’ve come out of this bubble, I’ve realised I’ve probably been a bit insensitive towards the scale of the crisis that’s happening in the UK and the forever changing situation and advice that’s been given. 

‘I decided to take down my previous post because some of the advice I gave now goes against government advice and I wouldn’t want people to come across that now.

‘I’ve decided to admit that I made a mistake. I always talk about integrity, take that on the chin and come back to the UK and do the best that I possibly can.’

He praised the emergency services as well as NHS staff and other key employees working throughout the crisis.    

The original post read: ‘Am I still out travelling the world? Yes. Am I still shaking hands? Yes. Am I still cuddling fans at the airport? Yes. Am I washing my hands and keeping my hygiene to a high standard as always? Yes.

‘Has my life changed? No. Am I going to let some disease, COVID-19, dictate my life? Absolutely not. Get out there, don’t change, F**k COVID-19!’

Captioning his clip, Ant said that fans should thank him if they end up contracting the virus from him, because it will ultimately make them stronger.

He said: ‘I do love my fans who come up to me and want a cuddle or a handshake but feel really awkward, so I simply pull them in anyway. 

‘Don’t worry if I give it to you, your immune system will be stronger after then you can come back and thank me with a kiss! Stay clean and keep doing your thing!

‘P.S I haven’t got Covid-19 but probably have had it like the majority of you but Ssshhh!’ 

In one Instagram video in March, Ant insisted he didn’t care if he got Covid and compared it to the flu.

He said: ‘I don’t care if I get it, I’ll fight it off. We don’t let the flu stop us do we? If you’re vulnerable, protect yourself and allow us to keep the economy going. 

‘Allow us to live normal lives and stop this panic. It’s equivalent to our shores being breached by an enemy force. Do we pick up the weapons and fight it or do we all run for the hills and hide away and isolate ourselves? 

‘Ultimately the problem doesn’t go away. We’ve got to tackle it head on. For those that can fight Covid-19 head on, let’s do it. For those that can’t, isolate yourselves, protect yourselves and allow us to keep the economy going. 

‘Covid-19 doesn’t bother me, neither should it for you if you are young fit and healthy. Be sensitive to spreading it, be sensitive to the situation and be sensitive to the vulnerable.’ 

Navy chiefs were said to be furious about the star’s online rant about Government advice to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Ant later apologised for his comments. 

He was given the option to quit or be sacked by admiralty bosses exasperated with his controversial behaviour.

A source told The Sun: ‘He never thought he’d be given such a difficult choice. But he has decided to take matters into his own hands and step down. He’s gutted.’

A Ministry of Defence spokesman told MailOnline: ‘The Ministry of Defence is not prepared to comment as this is a private matter.’