Axed SAS: Who Dares Wins chief instructor Ant Middleton is going to war with woke Channel 4 by launching a rival series

ANT MIDDLETON is going into battle again – this time with his old paymasters at Channel 4.

I’m told the former soldier will continue to front the Australian version of SAS: Who Dares Wins, despite being dropped from the British show.

And much to the annoyance of C4, the two series are shot at exactly the same time — which means Jason “Foxy” Fox and Mark “Billy” Billingham have had to choose between the UK and Oz.

I’m told that they have decided to stay with the original programme in Blighty — but old show favourite Ollie Ollerton is heading Down Under with Ant for the Aussie series.

A production source said: “The Aussie bosses were really pleased with how the show was received there and said that they want more of the same.

“The show has had Ant on from the beginning and their view was they want to continue with him but the others could come or go. Ollie has said he will join Ant in Oz, but Billy and Foxy are staying loyal to the UK version.

“Channel 4 and Minnow — the production company which makes the UK series — are not best pleased.

“Ant, though, is happy as Larry. He loved the Oz version and is looking forward to getting two new instructors in as replacements for Billy and Foxy.”

Ant, who left the SBS in 2012, can currently still be seen on screen as part of the Celebrity version of the series, which was filmed before it was announced he was leaving the Channel 4 hit.

Viewers can watch the military hard man putting the likes of singer Alexandra Burke, former I’m A Celeb jungle queen Vicky Pattison and double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell through their paces in the on the remote island of Raasay.

I can’t blame Ollie and Ant for preferring to film in Oz, to be honest.

Hugo can boss it in Pep talks

HUGO HAMMOND was put in the friend zone so many times on Love Island that he’s become an expert in the field.

The reality star is charging fans £50 for “pep talks” on celebrity video website Cameo about bouncing back from being dumped.

He dishes out advice during 30-second clips based on requests from fans, who forward the footage to pals in need of an urgent pick-me-up.

In one message to a freshly dumped singleton, Hugo says: “Keep being you, that’s all you can be.

“Just surround yourself with your nearest and dearest, friends and family, and I’m sure they’ve got your back.

“You’ve got this and I’m sure somebody else is around the corner.”

PE teacher Hugo, who left Love Island viewers cringing with some of his romantic disasters, also dishes out birthday messages and personalised event announcements on the site

But how to bounce back from a dumping is certainly his speciality.

He will be a millionaire come the winter.

Heroes filming hots up

VIP trailers usually give a bit of luxury on film sets – but that wasn’t the case shooting SAS: Rogue Heroes.

One of the stars of the new BBC1 drama has revealed they caught fire after hot sandstorms in Morocco blew into generators, sparking a series of blazes in the backstage camp.

Connor Swindells, who also features in TV drama Vigil and Netflix hit Sex Education, told me: “I’ve just been shooting a BBC drama series in Morocco in the Sahara and we frequently had issues with our trailers.

“We often had sandstorms which would blow into the generators and cause fires.

“Luckily we had an amazing team which put them out. But it was quite intense.”

Connor appears alongside Jack O’Connell, Dominic West and Alfie Allen in Rogue Heroes, which is based on Ben Macintyre's book about how the SAS was formed in World War Two.

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is at the helm.

Laura's love life rocked

LOVE Island’s Laura Anderson and her pop star boyfriend Dane Bowers are taking some time apart after an almighty row rocked their relationship.

A source close to the couple says the pair are still officially together but enjoying their own space.

An insider revealed: “Dane and Laura had a big row last month.

“Things had been going well but now it seems like they have hit a bump in the road. Officially they’re still together but they have decided to spend some time apart.”

Their representatives would not comment.

The former air hostess – who was a runner-up on Love Island in 2018 – and the Another Level singer have been documenting their romance on social media over the last few months.

In May they moved to Dubai but he is now back in the UK.

Dane, you must be Out Of Your Mind.