Ant Middleton blames ‘the PC woke patrol’ for departure from SAS: Who Dares Wins
‘If you’re a snowflake, you don’t belong on SAS: Who Dares Wins,’ former soldier told Piers Morgan
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Your support makes all the difference.Ant Middleton has blamed “the PC patrol” and “the woke patrol” after he was dropped by Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins.
On Monday (1 March), it was reported that Channel 4 had officially cut ties with the former soldier, who has hosted the series since 2015. Middleton himself has insisted that he always planned to leave the show anyway.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Middleton reiterated his stance, while claiming that reports of a Channel 4 investigation into “inappropriate” comments he allegedly made on the set of the show were “smoke and mirrors”.
“Over the years, the PC patrol have kicked in, the woke patrol, to the point where we can’t say anything, or be ourselves,” he explained. “It’s been so controlled and so managed and so inauthentic that I’ve decided to walk away from it.”
He continued: “First of all, if you’re sensitive, or a snowflake or easily offended, you do not belong on the set of SAS: Who Dares Wins... This isn’t a Dancing on Ice, it’s not a Celebrity Big Brother, even if it’s turned into that. This is SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Read more: Ant Middleton breaks silence after Channel 4 cuts ties with SAS: Who Dares Wins host
“You’re gonna see things that are uncomfortable, you’re gonna hear things that are uncomfortable... It’s a gruelling process, it’s an authentic process, and if you don’t like what you see, don’t come and work on the set.”
Middleton added that he had also become frustrated by safety protocols introduced during filming. He named the “safety bubbles” required to prevent cast and crew from spreading coronavirus, as well as systems that encourage participants to complain if they “hear anything that offends” them.
As a result, Middleton suggested, Channel 4 should drop the show all together.
“It’s a brutal, alpha male military course,” he said. “Deal with it or move on.”
Read more: SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton apologises for comparing Black Lives Matter protesters to EDL
In a statement, Channel 4 explained that the broadcaster’s values no longer “aligned” with Middleton’s.
“Following a number of discussions Channel 4 and Minnow Films have had with him in relation to his personal conduct,” the statement reads, “it has become clear that our views and values are not aligned and we will not be working with him again.”
Last year, Middleton apologised after calling Black Lives Matter protesters “scum” in a since-deleted tweet. He also faced a backlash for saying that he was still “travelling the world” and “shaking hands” amid the pandemic.
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