Ant Middleton, a former soldier best known for his role on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, was seen at the Waterworks pub in Rye.
Middleton was photographed by local resident Gary Quinnell.
Gary said the former SAS man had “just popped in for a beer with his friends.
“He was very personable and happy to chat with people”, Gary added.
Ant Middleton is a former solider turned TV personality (Image: Matt Crossick/PA Wire)
Born Anthony Middleton, he joined the British Army at 17, serving first in the Royal Engineers before moving to the Royal Marines and ultimately the Special Boat Service, one of the UK’s elite special forces units.
Middleton rose to prominence as the chief instructor on SAS: Who Dares Wins, the Channel 4 programme that puts members of the public – and later celebrities – through demanding military-style selection tasks.
He also led other adventure docuseries, including Mutiny, Escape, and Extreme Everest, which followed his attempt to climb Mount Everest for television.
Middleton has expressed his support for Reform UK (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
However, Middleton’s public profile has not been without controversy.
He left SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2021 amid controversy over his social media conduct.
Earlier controversies include a 2013 conviction for unlawful wounding and common assault in an alcohol-related incident, which resulted in a short prison sentence.
In March 2025, Middleton and his wife were banned from serving as company directors for four years after their company failed to pay more than £1 million in taxes, resulting in significant legal and financial consequences.
He is also accused of breaching a confidentiality contract with the Ministry of Defence by sharing “extremely sensitive” details of his time in the special forces on a podcast, with a court case ongoing.
Ant Middleton in Rye, with Gary Quinnell’s dog Rodney (Image: Gary Quinnell)
Middleton has also become increasingly vocal in politics, offering public support for Reform UK.
He spoke at the party’s conference in Birmingham on September 20, 2024, and later hinted that he would consider running as the Reform UK candidate for Mayor of London in 2028.
On January 20, Middleton joined the Reform UK delegation at the second inauguration of Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., alongside party leader Nigel Farage and party treasurer Nick Candy.
Defending Middleton, Gary added: “I admire Ant Middleton for his career. I wasn’t even aware of the rest of it.
“But that doesn’t alter the fact that he served his country.
“I do not personally agree with Reform, but I respect other people’s right to choose whatever party they want in our democracy.”