SAS: Who Dares Wins viewers confused as Ant Middleton stars in new series – despite being sensationally axed
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 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 ??"
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."
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.
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.