Ant Middleton was abruptly fired from the British version of SAS Australia earlier this month over his ‘personal conduct’.
And on Wednesday, the former soldier told The Kyle and Jackie O Show he was dropped from the military-style reality show for being too strong-willed.
‘I’m too hot to handle for the UK,’ the 40-year-old said when asked about being let go from Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins.
‘We parted ways a bit sourly… it’s all good’: Ant Middleton told The Kyle and Jackie O Show he was dropped from Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins for being too strong-willed
He explained: ‘With the UK version, once that final string pinged from my grasp and it was being controlled by health and safety, and it’s being controlled by the production, then yeah we butted heads a bit and we parted ways a bit sourly.’
‘But listen, it’s all good. It is what it is,’ he added.
‘The moment my work starts to get diluted, and I don’t stay true to who I am and true to what the course is about, then it’s time for me to move on.’
Out of his control: ‘With the UK version, once that final string pinged from my grasp and it was being controlled by health and safety, and it’s being controlled by the production, then yeah we butted heads a bit and we parted ways a bit sourly,’ Ant said
Jackie and her co-host Kyle Sandilands both said they hoped the Australian version would not be ‘diluted’ either.
Ant then praised Channel Seven for allowing him to return for season two of SAS Australia, despite his exit from the British show.
‘Channel Seven straight away were like, “We really hope you’re coming back to Australia,” and I said, “Of course I am. Listen, I built this show,”‘ he said.
True grit: Ant praised Channel Seven for allowing him to return for season two of SAS Australia, despite his exit from the British version of the show
‘I wrote it on the back of a cigarette packet six, seven years ago. So I am coming back. I am still the chief instructor.’
‘I do my part, I let the production do their part, I let the channel do their part. Everyone sings from the same song sheet and we get the job done,’ he added.
Earlier this month, Ant was axed from the British version of the show, SAS: Who Dares Wins, over his ‘personal conduct’.
Not going anywhere: ‘Channel Seven straight away were like, “We really hope you’re coming back to Australia,” and I said, “Of course I am,”‘ he said. Pictured with Sabrina Frederick
He previously claimed he was dropped for ‘butting heads’ with the show’s team.
A spokesperson for Ant told MailOnline: ‘Ant has worked on TV sets around the world for many years and has never at any point been accused of speaking inappropriately by anyone.
‘He has only ever been informed of these allegations, which he wholeheartedly and emphatically rejects, via the media.
Controversy: Earlier this month, Ant was axed from the British version of the show, SAS: Who Dares Wins, over his ‘personal conduct’. Pictured with Jackson Warne on SAS Australia
‘If anyone felt that he did say anything verbally offensive we would have expected a formal process of review but no such discussion has ever taken place either via any of the networks he works for or via bodies such as Bectu.’
Ant and the other directing staff on SAS Australia – Jason Fox, Matthew Ollerton and Mark Billingham – flew Down Under this week ahead of filming season two.
Production will commence next month after the British drill sergeants have all completed their mandatory 14-day quarantine, TV Tonight reports.
Filming soon: The reality TV show’s stars including Ant, Jason Fox, Matthew Ollerton and Mark Billingham flew Down Under this week ahead of filming season two of Seven’s military-style show. They British drill sergeants have all completed their mandatory 14-day quarantine