Anger over new reality gig for SAS Australia host Ant Middleton

The Seven Network has wasted no time in signing the divisive and abusive Ant Middleton to a new reality show, Million Dollar Island. But not everyone is happy. HAVE YOUR SAY.

The news SAS Australia host Ant Middleton has been signed to a new Seven Network TV show has provoked some angst among members of the SAS community who last week reached out to this column to register their disgust and dismay.

As this writer predicted three months ago, talent-strapped Seven has wasted no time in signing the divisive abusive grunt Middleton to a new reality show, Million Dollar Island, set to premiere on the broadcaster in 2023.

In March this writer called Seven out for failing to recognise the implications of sticking by Middleton after he was dumped by Britain’s Channel 4 in 2021 for “personal conduct”.

It coincided with reports Middleton had allegedly made “lewd and suggestive comments” to women who worked on the set of Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins program and after he’d posted tweets encouraging the British public to flout Covid safety measures.

It also came after he called Black Lives Matters protesters “scum”, prompting an apology from Middleton.

Divisive SAS Australia instructor Ant Middleton. Picture: Justin Lloyd

On Friday, as Seven made plans to somehow make a silk purse out of chump steak in readiness for Sunday night’s Logies ceremony, former SAS Australia contestants blasted the decision and reminded us (though we needed no reminder) that the married Middleton also has a reputation for being a sleaze thanks to The Sun’s report he was overheard telling a contestant working on the UK version of the show he wanted to have sex with her.

Again a denial followed.

Despite SAS Australia’s declining ratings, network bosses seem to have also chosen to overlook the ugly fact Middleton was sentenced to 14 months in prison in 2013 (he served four) for his assault on policeman Christopher Brooksbank who he body-slammed on the pavement outside an Essex nightclub.

“Seven is being completely negligent employing this man,” said one former SAS contestant.

“The risk to anyone who must associate with him on a set — and to Seven’s brand — cannot be underestimated.”

Seven denies MacGill payday

How much for Stuart MacGill? It’s a question that preoccupied some last year when it was reported the retired cricketer had been kidnapped for a ransom and that media types were pondering anew on Friday after Channel 7 confirmed it will broadcast an exclusive interview with MacGill.

The sum of $150,000 was later reported to have been the figure MacGill’s allegedly kidnappers put on his head (though police claim they were trying to extort the money from MacGill himself rather than ransom him).

Former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill. Picture: David Swift

Bizarrely it was the same figure doing the rounds last week in connection with his forthcoming Spotlight interview.

EP of the Seven show Mark Llewellyn blasted rumours MacGill had been paid for his interview.

“It’s a crock. Our rivals spreading mischief after blowing $2 million earlier this year on one of the ratings duds of the year,” Llewellyn said.

“We are not them – and that’s one of the reasons MacGill decided to tell his story with us.”

The interview to which Llewellyn was referring was Nine’s 60 Minutes interview with the parents of missing WA four-year-old Cleo Smith.

Last night we were informed the bidding for MacGill in fact started at around $50k … and plunged.