“BACK BORIS” SHOCKJOCK SACKED

07-05-2008

Former Central TV presenter James Whale has been sacked from his show on national radio station Talksport for urging listeners to vote for Boris Johnson in the London mayoral election. He had his contract terminated on Friday after 12 years.

Whale – one of Britain’s original shockjocks who also fronted Central Weekend in Birmigham for several years – allegedly said, “Vote Boris, Vote Boris” on his programme on March 20.

That prompted listeners to complain to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom – and station bosses decided to act promptly, possibly to head off a substantial fine.

Ignorance can be no excuse for Whale’s gaffe – all the station’s presenters were circulated with guidelines emphasising the need for impartiality during the “pending” period leading up to the election.

Talksport accused him of a “serious error of judgement” which they said was “unacceptable”.

On his website (http://www.whaleworld.uk.eu.org/) Whale insists that he’s going to continue broadcasting and has spoken in the past about developing an online radio project.

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