Radio presenter James Whale sacked - after urging listeners to vote for Boris Johnson - News - Evening Standard
       

Radio presenter James Whale sacked - after urging listeners to vote for Boris Johnson

Controversial radio presenter James Whale has been sacked for urging his Talksport listeners to vote for Boris Johnson.

His comments during a show on March 20 had sparked a number of complaints to the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom.

There are clear rules forbidding broadcasters from election bias - and although the Ofcom investigation is yet to finish, Talksport mounted its own inquiry and dismissed the veteran presenter.

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Bias: Talksport DJ James Whale has been sacked for urging people to vote Tory

Yorkshire-based Mr Whale, 56, had worked for the station since it was launched as Talk Radio in 1995.

His show went out between 10pm to 1am, Monday to Thursday.

An outspoken right-winger with a long history of courting controversy, he had considered standing for mayor himself, before publicly pledging support for Mr Johnson.

Talksport said: "James Whale was guilty of a serious error of judgment which we found totally unacceptable."

This isn't the first time the controversial radio personality has created a stir.

In 2007, Whale plugged the release of his book "Almost a Celebrity: A lifetime of Night-time" on air with the aim of out-selling fellow Talksport presenter John Gaunt's book which was published at the same time.

It's also not the first time Whale has broadcast his political beliefs.

Whale has repeatedly spoken of his admiration for Margaret Thatcher and has described himself as a Tory voter, but has said that he will not vote Conservative as long as David Cameron is the party's leader.

Mr Whale has declined to comment on the Boris scandal.

Boris Johnson cycles into work this morning on his first day as London Mayor

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