CRAIG McLACHLAN joins Channel 7’s SAS Australia

The controversial actor is making his TV comeback after a ‘not guilty’ verdict in an indecent assault court case but dropping defamation proceedings.

Actor Craig McLachlan is returning to television as a reality show contestant in the new series of SAS Australia.

News Corp confirmed the actor flew out of Sydney this week to film the new series, which is taking place in the Middle East.

It will be the first role McLachlan has had in 5 years after being accused of seven counts of indecent assault and six counts of common law assault by cast members of The Rocky Horror Show.

In 2020 he was found not guilty of those charges but dropped defamation action against ABC, Fairfax and Christie Whelan Brown over January 2018 publications that claimed he harassed female performers in the 2014 stage production.

Whelan Brown now stars on the Channel 7 comedy show – We Interrupt This Broadcast, which has made parodies of SAS Australia.

That means the two are now stars on the same network.

At the time the allegations were made Channel 7 sacked McLachlan as star of the Doctor Blake Mysteries, replacing him with Nadine Garner as lead.

Seven chose not to renew the series beyond the one special without McLachlan.

The reality series is known for employing controversial stars and is hosted by Ant Middleton (no stranger to controversy himself).

McLachlan’s partner, Vanessa Scammell, explained the actor almost missed out on taking part in the new series as he was recovering from major abdominal surgery, saying:

“It was touch and go.

“Craig’s race against the clock to put on weight, gain strength and pass his fitness test after the emergency abdominal surgery late last year was far from being a fait accompli.”

It remains to be seen who will join McLachlan in the Middle East for the new series.

Seven has been approached for comment.