'Bring back Ant Middleton': 'SAS: Who Dares Wins' viewers not convinced by replacement Rudy Reyes

SAS: Who Dares Wins viewers have slammed a cast change that saw the new series launch with former US Marine Rudy Reyes replacing ex-Special Forces soldier Ant Middleton.

The Channel 4 extreme challenge show sees a group of ultra-fit recruits take on a gruelling condensed version of SAS training under the shouty guidance of former military men.

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But the show's star Middleton has been dropped since the last series after some offensive social media posts - and viewers are not happy about his American replacement, who debuted on Sunday night.

An old cast photo featuring Middleton and captioned "Get these lads back!" tweeted by one viewer drew hundreds of likes, as many agreed with his outrage over the change in team members.

One angry viewer tweeted: "What the actual f*** has happened to this programme - why try and fix what isn’t broken. It was a great UK production and you bring in f****** yanks? Jesus Christ they’ve never won a war in their lives."

Someone else commented: "Just awful I think Rudy thinks he's auditioning for a Wish version of Magic Mike bring back #antmiddleton"

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Another person wrote: "Where the chuff is Ant?#SASwhodareswins This new leader is hilarious, I feel like I'm watching a movie. Can't take him seriously."

Reyes is in fact an actor as well as a former Marine, having starred in the TV series Generation Kill.

He is also joined by another ex-member of the US military, Remi Adeleke, although British stars of the show ex-Royal Marine Jason "Foxy" Fox and former SAS mountain troop specialist Mark "Billy" Billingham did return.

The new US stars proved a problem for many viewers, who argued it didn't work not to have a British leader.

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One person tweeted: "I don’t get it, the SAS is a British regiment so why isn’t one of the British guys running the show? Have the Americans completed SAS training?"

Someone else commented: "Just watching the 1st 3 minutes introduction to #saswhodareswins and I'm switching off, it's too americanised ,#antmiddleton was the backbone of the programme."

Another viewer wrote: "What a disappointment. What this American twist. SAS is supposed to be about the British special forces. American twist totally spoilt it. Garbage."

Someone else agreed: "Too sandy, too shouty, too americanised ... I'm not liking SAS Who Dares Wins no more! Bring back Ant Middleton and ditch the American guys!"

SAS: Who Dares Wins continues on Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4.

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