Ant Middleton thanks Australians for embracing him ‘as one of their own’ as he celebrates the success of SAS Australia with a Sydney Harbour cruise
Ant Middleton has settled into life in Australia and is enjoying the success of his show, SAS Australia.
On Sunday, the British adventurer, 41, enjoyed a cruise with friends aboard a yacht on Sydney Harbour, sharing images to Instagram.
In his caption, Ant thanked Channel 7 – and the Australian people – for welcoming him.
Fun: Ant Middleton (left) has settled into life in Australia and is enjoying the success of his show, SAS Australia. On Sunday, the British adventurer, 41, enjoyed a cruise with friends aboard a yacht on Sydney Harbour, sharing images to Instagram
‘Huge congrats to all @channel7 for your #1 success and many thanks towards your commitment to myself and @sasaustralia,’ he wrote, referencing the recent ratings success of the program.
He added: ‘Proud to be part of the C7 family and also for the Australia public for embracing me as one of their own! I’ve only just begun!’
Ant had lots of support from celebrities, including Shane Warne who commented, ‘Congrats mate’ while Erin Holland added, ‘the best’.
Close: In his caption, Ant thanked Channel 7 – and the Australian people – for welcoming him. ‘Huge congrats to all @channel7 for your #1 success and many thanks towards your commitment to myself and @sasaustralia,’ he wrote
He added: ‘Proud to be part of the C7 family and also for the Australia public for embracing me as one of their own! I’ve only just begun!’
Even Piers Morgan got involved, adding clapping emojis, as did former contestants Schapelle Corby.
It comes after Ant had some harsh words for the UK version of SAS, called SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The former soldier says he only accepted the role on the local sister show because it was less produced.
Pleased: It comes after Ant had some harsh words for the UK version of SAS, called SAS: Who Dares Wins. The former soldier says he only accepted the role on the local sister show because it was less produced
‘The UK version fell out of my grasp and was taken out of my grip, so I was worried about this version being the same,’ he told The Daily Telegraph.
‘It wasn’t until I sat down with the heads of Channel 7 and they said, “we want you to run it and do what you do best”, I knew it would be different.’
Ant added that he is more than happy to cut ties with the UK version of the show.
Oh dear: Ant added that he is more than happy to cut ties with the UK version of the show
‘The last UK episode finishes on Sunday and then I am going to wipe my hands of them and move forward. Hopefully they leave me alone.
‘There’s a lot of witch hunting going on, there’s no doubt about that,’ he said.
Ant was dropped by Channel 4 due to his ‘personal conduct’, with the station claiming they will not work with him again.
‘The last UK episode finishes on Sunday and then I am going to wipe my hands of them and move forward. Hopefully they leave me alone. ‘There’s a lot of witch hunting going on, there’s no doubt about that,’ he said
His departure came months after Ant sparked controversy by referring to Black Lives Matter protesters as ‘absolute scum’, and urging people to ‘carry on as normal’ and not change their habits amid the global Covid pandemic.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 told MailOnline: ‘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.’
Controversy: Ant was dropped by Channel 4 due to his ‘personal conduct’, with the station claiming they will not work with him again