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SAS: Who Dares Wins fans were very confused when Ant Middleton appeared on the show's new series despite getting the sack.

The 40-year-old hardman launched the hit Channel 4 show in 2015, but this will be his final series on the program, which was filmed before he got the sack.

Ant Middleton turned up on the latest series of SAS: Who Dares Wins
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Ant Middleton turned up on the latest series of SAS: Who Dares WinsCredit: Channel 4

Ant will also star in a celebrity special this autumn. However he will not be invited to return in 2022.

"Thought Ant had been sacked from this show," wrote one Twitter user.

Another added: "I wasn't expecting to see Ant on #SASWhoDaresWins ? Is this the last series before he left ??"

But that left fans of the show confused because he was fired very spectacularly from the show
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But that left fans of the show confused because he was fired very spectacularly from the showCredit: seven
Ant filmed part of the series before he was fired from the Channel 4 show
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Ant filmed part of the series before he was fired from the Channel 4 showCredit: seven
He was replaced by Melvyn Downes on the new series
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He was replaced by Melvyn Downes on the new series

And a third said: "I thought Ant Middleton had been binned off."

Ant is understood to have been axed from the show after a series of high profile gaffes, which included a tweet about the Black Lives Matter movement.

There was a social media backlash in June 2020 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."

Ant was fired over a series of missteps including controversial opinions on Black Lives Matter and the coronavirus
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Ant was fired over a series of missteps including controversial opinions on Black Lives Matter and the coronavirusCredit: antmiddleton/instagram

He was informed of the sudden decision by Channel 4 to no longer employ him on March 1, 2021 - just weeks ahead of the planned start date for the latest series.

Reports also circulated that Middleton had been fired after female crew members raised concerns regarding "inappropriate comments" he had made.

The broadcaster has since said it will never work with him again due to his "personal conduct".

He is currently Down Under filming the Australian version of the show with his co-star Mark Billingham.

Ant will still appear on the Australian version of SAS which is made by a different network
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Ant will still appear on the Australian version of SAS which is made by a different networkCredit: Splash News
He is in Sydney currently filming the Australian series
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He is in Sydney currently filming the Australian seriesCredit: Instagram
Ant will also appear on a celebrity version of SAS in the UK before being finally removed from thhe show
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Ant will also appear on a celebrity version of SAS in the UK before being finally removed from thhe showCredit: Instagram

After Ant's final appearance in the sixth series, TV bosses shook up the line-up with a new fierce face to put contestants through their paces.

Former soldier Melvyn Downes joined the team tonight, alongside Ant, Jason Fox, and Mark “Billy” Billingham.

He will be the show's first mixed-race officer and member of the Directing Staff (DS), which he said was a "great opportunity" to represent minorities on TV.

Future series which will air in 2022 could also see other new recruits elected to put members of the public to the test.

SAS Who Dares Wins star 'Billy' Billingham breaks silence on Ant Middleton exit and says he's not 'bigger than the show'
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