its good news week

Bigal · May 6, 2008

Radio host James Whale has been fired by Talksport after urging listeners to vote for Conservative candidate Boris Johnson in London's mayoral elections.

The comments were made on 20 March during the 56-year-old's late-night phone-in programme.

A spokesman said: "James Whale's contract with the station has been terminated after a breach of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code."

He has been with the station since it launched in 1995 as Talk Radio.

'Gross error'

The spokesman added: "It's very unfortunate. We have investigated the matter and after serious consideration, the station reached the decision that there was a clear breach of the rules and that we had no choice but to terminate his contract.

"James Whale is guilty of a gross error of judgement, which we found to be totally unacceptable.

"Talksport has acknowledged the seriousness of the complaints received, does not excuse the content of the broadcast and has told Ofcom that it has taken steps to prevent this happening again.

"The matter is still under investigation by Ofcom so it would be inappropriate to comment any further on the details of the complaints."

James Whale started his career at Metro Radio in Newcastle in 1974 and had his own late-night show on ITV in the early '90s, The James Whale Radio Show.

He considered standing for London mayor in 2006.

ManxRed · May 6, 2008