Ant Middleton has opened up about his strong friendship with Shane Warne’s son

SAS Australia’s Ant Middleton first met Jackson Warne when he was a contestant on the brutal reality show. Now, the pair are firm friends.

Jackson Warne and Ant Middleton on SAS Australia. Picture: Nigel Wright

Big bro, little bro. That’s the kind of relationship hard line SAS Australia instructor Ant Middleton has with the son of late Australian cricketer Shane Warne.

Middleton and Jackson Warne formed a strong bond when the 25-year-old competed on the brutal reality show in 2020.

“I talk to Jackson a hell of a lot,” Middleton said in the latest episode of the Mental As Anyone with J.Mo podcast.

Jackson Warne and Ant Middleton.

“We’ve had some good heart to hearts. Jackson is a man of few words, he is more introvert than he is extrovert. We’ve built up a special relationship and you know, it’s one that … we’re definitely going to grow old together so yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”

Shane Warne died unexpectedly at the age of just 52 in 2022 leaving his three children devastated at the loss of their father.

“This is why it’s so important to surround yourself with positive people, people … that just make you feel better about yourself, that make you a better person, that give you that energy or that comfort,” the former British Special Forces soldier said. “Jackson has got a lovely calming aura around him, he’s super positive.”

Middleton is showing a completely different side to his TV persona by competing on Dancing With The Stars this season.

On Mental As Anyone, he explains that people have strong preconceived ideas of who he is.

“People see this disciplinarian sort of chief instructor drill sergeant screaming, shouting … in people’s faces for entertainment,” he said.

L-R: Nikki Osborne, Adam Dovile, Hayden Quinn, Julie Goodwin, James Stewart, Lisa McCune, Ben Cousins, Ant Middleton, Nova Peris, Samantha Jade, Shane Crawford and Nadia Bartel. New season cast of Dancing With the Stars

“There’s a whole bigger picture to it, the breaking down to build back up procedure to ultimately make the individual realise what they’re capable of. But in order to go deep into their headspace and into their emotions, you have to strip everything down, all the armour hypothetically that we wear. Ultimately all I’m trying to do is make people realise what they’re capable of, make people function at their optimum capabilities and performance.”

Middleton meanwhile is a father of five and has been married to wife Emilie for 18 years.

“She’s definitely my stabiliser in life,” he said.

SAS Australia's Ant Middleton and his family. Source: Instagram

“She’s my sounding board, she’s very good at bringing me back down to earth and being honest with me. Without her, I wouldn’t have the self belief to be able to go and do what I do and the confidence to go and do what I do.”

* A new episode of the Mental As Anyone podcast drops each Tuesday at 6am.

Originally published as Ant Middleton has opened up about his strong friendship with Shane Warne’s son