Former soldier and TV presenter Ant Middleton has parted ways with Channel 4, following controversial comments on the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter.
Middleton, who hosted the military-based TV contest SAS: Who Dares Wins between 2015 and 2020, was dropped by the broadcaster over his “personal conduct” following comments he made online last year. In a statement, Channel 4 said that it had “become clear that our views and values are not aligned”.
Last June, amid increased Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd and tension between activists and far-right groups, Middleton tweeted: “The extreme left against the extreme right. When did two wrongs make a right … BLM and EDL are not welcome on our streets, absolute scum”. He later apologised and removed the post, describing himself as “anti-racist and anti-violence” and said that he had not intended to describe BLM protesters as scum.
Prior to his comments, Middleton had told people to ignore safety measures implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, vowing not to let the virus “dictate my life” and describing people who followed government guidelines as “sheep”. He later said that he was “sheltered” from the situation in the UK as he had been in New Zealand at the time.
On Twitter, Middleton said it was “time to move on” from the show, which has spawned two celebrity series featuring the likes of Katie Price, Joey Essex and former Olympian Victoria Pendleton. Middleton has also presented shows for other broadcasters, most recently the Sky series Ant Middleton & Rebel Wilson: Straight Talking, which saw him undertake a roadtrip with actor Rebel Wilson.
