Television personality and prospective London mayor Ant Middleton has been slapped with a High Court injunction that prohibits him from speaking about his experiences in the UK Special Forces, despite his firm denial of revealing military secrets during a podcast appearance.
Court Battle Over Podcast Comments
The Ministry of Defence took the Channel 4 'SAS: Who Dares Wins' star to court today over allegations that he violated his Special Forces confidentiality agreement during an interview on the American podcast 'Mike Drop'. Ministry lawyers informed the High Court that Middleton's disclosures included what they described as highly sensitive information covering weapons systems, intelligence operations, unit sizes and international partners.
Representing the MOD, Oliver Sanders KC stated that the 45-year-old former Special Boat Service member, who served from 2008 to 2011, should have sought permission before making such statements, though he never would have received approval. Sanders emphasised that the confidentiality contract Middleton signed when joining the Special Forces remains binding for life.
Political Motivations Alleged
Representing himself in court, Middleton strongly denied revealing any military secrets and suggested the timing of the legal action might be politically motivated. I have recently announced my intention to run for mayor of London in May 2028, he told Mr Justice Garnham, expressing concern that this might be influencing the MOD's approach.
The former soldier, who now resides in Dubai, maintained that he has never endangered his country or former comrades. I believe the suggestion I have revealed military secrets is shocking and unfounded, he stated, adding that the true motive behind the legal action may be political rather than related to genuine national security concerns.
Lifetime Confidentiality Agreement
The court heard that the confidentiality contract Middleton signed was introduced in 1996 following what Sanders described as an explosion in SAS book publications after Andy McNab's 'Bravo Two Zero'. The agreement specifically prohibits Special Forces members from revealing information about their experiences or making statements that claim to be such information.
Sanders argued that secrecy is essential to the operational effectiveness of UK Special Forces and their ability to perform national security functions. He noted that Middleton had previously threatened to breach the contract regarding book publication, making the injunction necessary to prevent further disclosures.
Following a short hearing in London, Mr Justice Garnham granted an interim injunction preventing Middleton from repeating such matters without written permission until the MOD's breach of contract claim is resolved in March. The judge determined that if Middleton were to reveal military secrets, it could cause very significant harm to the operation of UK Special Forces.
Middleton's military career began when he joined at age 17, serving tours in Northern Ireland and North Macedonia before joining the Royal Marines and eventually the Special Boat Service. After leaving the forces, he built a successful media career, presenting SAS: Who Dares Wins from 2015 to 2021, climbing Mount Everest for television and publishing several books.
