Channel 4 hits back at axed SAS star Ant Middleton after he claimed they were upset over ‘banter’
CHANNEL 4 have hit back at axed SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton after he dismissed their allegations of "inappropriate comments"; as "banter".
The 40-year-old star slammed the "desperate and reckless" broadcaster live on Good Morning Britain yesterday - insisting that he'd already decided to leave the show.
When quizzed on new claims that he'd received complaints from female staff members, Ant said these would have been "indirect" remarks and "military humour" from his and the other instructors' dorm.
Channel 4 have now released a statement refuting these claims - saying the "inappropriate comments" were made when the cameras weren't rolling and are completely separate to his "on-screen persona".
They told: "Our decision not to renew Ant Middleton’s contract and not to work with him again was solely based on his personal conduct off-camera and is not related to his on-screen persona as a DS."
Addressing Ant's complaint that the programme had turned into more of a reality TV show than factual entertainment, they added: "SAS: Who Dares Wins will continue to be as tough as it’s ever been."
The ex-Special Forces soldier made a series of explosive comments on yesterday's appearance on GMB, and revealed that when the show first launched he and the other instructors asked Channel 4 to "protect" them from what happens in their DS Dorm - but the "PC Patrol" have ruined that respite.
He explained: "Our humour, our composure is different and it allowed us to be us and be true to the military ethos.
"But over the years the PC Patrol have kicked in, the Woke Patrol have kicked in, to the point where we can't say anything and we can't be ourselves - we can't even act on the ground without health and safety taking over."
Ant also admitted that he had to "butt heads" with production and Channel 4 over the last "two or three series" because he'd had control taken away.
A Channel 4 spokesperson said earlier this week: "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."