TV presenter axed from popular SAS show
Two-thirds of 91 new homes across Havant for those on the waiting list
PORTSMOUTH born Ant Middleton has been axed by Channel 4 over an issue with his ‘personal conduct’.
The former Portsmouth Grammar School pupil will no longer present the popular SAS: Who Dares Wins series after previously calling BLM protestors ‘scum’.
In March last year he dismissed the seriousness of the Covid pandemic, saying he would ‘carry on as normal’.
A Channel 4 spokesman said: ‘Following a number of discussions we have had with him in relation to his personal conduct it has become clear that our views and values are not aligned and we will not be working with him again.’
Ant said: ‘After five incredible years I’ve decided it’s time to move on from SAS:
Who Dares Wins.
‘Big respect to my fellow DS – it has been a journey I’ll never forget. Thanks to everyone that took part and made the show what it is. Really excited about the future and what’s coming this year. Stay positive.’
Ant made the BLM comment in a tweet posted in June but later clarified he was not referring to the BLM movement but to those who had been involved in violent protests. He also later apologised for his comments regarding the pandemic saying he made the statement while he was ‘in New Zealand and sheltered from the pandemic’.
Two series of the show have already been filmed and will be screened later this year.
UP TO 100 new Portsmouth council homes are set to be built using the 'greenest design possible' as part of a trial that could be used on all future city homes.
The city council is set to approve spending £26.8m on 91 new homes across Havant — of which 70 per cent will be used by people on Portsmouth's waiting list and the rest allocated to the borough council.
It is planned the dwellings will be built using the ‘passive house’ model, which utilises a unique ventilation system and extra-effective insulation to create an airtight home that can adjust to the seasons itself - reducing the need for heating.
Councillor Darren Sanders, the council's housing boss, said: ‘There are more than 2,000 people on our waiting list and it’s absolutely important that we have enough homes for them.
‘With these developments it will be the first time we have trialled the passive house design, which is the greenest house design we can have.
‘Not only will this help us reduce our carbon footprint but it will massively cut energy bills for the residents living there. It is my hope that this design will be used on more new homes in the future.’
As part of proposals 63 new homes will be built at a cost of £18.7m at a site known as Strouden Court, and the other 28 dwellings will be built in several spots around Wecock Farm for £8.1m.
It is planned the homes will be rented at an affordable level.
The developments were welcomed by Portsmouth Green Party member Ian McCulloch. 'I would very much like to see the council commit to making sure passive housing is the standard for all their future builds,’ he said.
‘It’s got the potential to reduce heating costs by 90 per cent.’
The developments will be considered at a housing meeting on Monday, March 8.