Channel 4 makes ‘difficult’ decision to ‘axe’ SAS: Who Dares Wins

Channel 4 has been airing SAS: Who Dares Wins since October 2015 and has even managed four celebrity spin-off series due to its success.

However, despite the popularity of the show with viewers of Channel 4, there have been rumours the broadcaster has been reviewing many of its long-running shows.

One of the shows which have been rumoured to be axed from the TV schedule is SAS: Who Dares Wins.

A TV insider told The Sun: “Losing such a big-name show is a disturbing sign for C4 as it faces an uncertain future in a market which will be difficult for even the biggest broadcasters and streaming services.

“Although the show’s celebrity spin-off will continue, losing the civilian version will be worrying given that it’s one of the channel’s best-known brands. The fear now is that it may be a sign of things to come.”

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Express.co.uk has contacted Channel 4 for a comment.

Earlier this year, Channel 4 managed to dodge privatisation but fears have since grown in the direction of the advertising revenue.

Concerns grew further last week when a reboot of Channel 4 show Four Weddings was called off at the very last minute.

A spokesman for C4 said: “Due to the huge success of Celebrity SAS we have shifted our focus to prioritise this strand. A longer, eight-part series is to commence filming in the summer.

“It is categorically untrue to suggest that we are reviewing all of our long-standing shows with a view to discontinuing them.”

The rumoured axing of the show is another big blow after Ant Middleton who front the show since its inception was axed.

When news of his exit was first announced, Channel 4 said in a statement: “Ant Middleton will not be taking part in future series of SAS: Who Dares Wins.

“Following a number of discussions Channel 4 and Minnow Films 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.”

However, Ant now fronts the Australian version on Channel 7 as a chief instructor alongside Ollie Ollerton.

Speaking to the Daily Express US, Ollie admitted his friend’s exit from the show was the best thing for him and explained: “We had already been commissioned to start SAS Australia so it was a good thing at the end of the day.

“The show had steered away from its authenticity, I wasn’t enjoying it and I know Ant wasn’t either so it was a good thing.”

SAS: Who Dares Wins is available to watch on All4.