ESCAPE ACT
SINCE leaving the military, survival expert Ant Middleton has made a name for himself on television. Swapping the battlefield for the small screen, the veteran had his first taste of TV fame in 2015, when he became the chief instructor in Channel 4’s hit series, SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Then there was Mutiny earlier this year, a factual series in which Middleton, flanked by eight men, recreated one of the greatest survival feats in naval history – Captain William Bligh’s 4000-mile voyage from Tonga to Timor.
The 36-year-old – whose service background includes a four-year stint in the elite Special Boat Service before he bowed out in 2012 – has been only too happy to embrace his new career.
The Portsmouth-born star said: “It’s a great transition, especially with the survival, adventure, problem-solving and leadership stuff that I do.
“TV work just sort of fell into my lap. I took the opportunity and I’m making the most out of it.
“I love testing myself, I love putting myself in awkward and horrible situations and see how I cope with it. I’m a bit strange like that.”
True to his word, the latest “situation” Middleton is set to find himself in involves a crash site in a hostile environment miles from civilisation.
But far from a Lost reboot, Escape – a brand-new extreme reality show for Channel 4 – will follow a small group of highly skilled engineers as they battle against the clock and the elements to build an escape vehicle, using only the items and tools they can salvage from the debris.
“It’s a very interesting and not-seenbefore concept,” said Middleton, who, at the helm of the bold series, will offer a unique insight into the mental and physical challenges ahead.
He added: “It’s literally taking engineers who are used to having their tools and their workshops out of their comfort zone and whacking them in a sort of survival situation.
“You’re going to get everything from egos to strong personalities to alphas coming together.
“Then you’re going to get the other