Comedian Merrick Watts returns to SAS as first Australian directing staff member

Former contestant and winner of Australia’s most brutal TV series Merrick Watts is set to move up the ranks for next year’s season and join ex-Special Forces soldiers as directing staff.

Comedian Merrick Watts, a former contestant on SAS: Australia, is joining Ant Middleton as directing staff (DS) on next year’s instalment of the series.

Australia’s most brutal TV show is returning next year with ex-British Special Forces operative Ant Middleton once again helming SAS: Australia.

And in a surprise it can be revealed that comedian Merrick Watts will be joining the show’s directing staff (DS) team.

Watts will be the first Australian DS member on the show. Watts impressed Middleton when he took part in SAS: Australia as a contestant in 2020.

“Merrick Watts, he is coming on as one of the DS, the directing staff, he is going to be by my side on the next SAS,” Middleton confirmed on Friday.

“I guess the cat is out of the bag now. We have to keep evolving it (the show), keep it fresh.”

The DS push the contestants through the SAS course and report back to Middleton on various participant’s performance and attitude.

Merrick Watts is mentored by DS Ant Middleton in the SAS: Australia 2020 series finale. Picture: Nigel Wright

Merrick Watts with Sabrina Frederick and Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins in the 2020 series of SAS: Australia. Picture: Nigel Wright

SAS: Australia has been rested for a year by Channel 7 but it is expected the show’s return in 2025 will be confirmed by Seven at its Upfront presentation next month.

Meanwhile Middleton’s documentary Killer K2 with Ant Middleton screens on 7Plus on Thursday. It follows Middleton as he climbs K2, the second highest peak in the world.

Having also made it to the top of Mt Everest, Middleton said his sights were now on Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain.

He has already ticked off Australia’s highest peak.

“When I was doing Dancing With The Stars my family was here (in Australia) and I got a weekend off and my 15-year-old son and I climbed Mount Kosciuszko,” he said.