Dan Wootton leaves GB News after Ofcom ruling on Laurence Fox rant

TV presenter Dan Wootton has left GB News a day after media watchdog Ofcom found comments made on his show by Laurence Fox about a female journalist broke broadcasting rules.

Wootton was suspended by GB News after the broadcast but has now left the channel to launch his own independent platform.

In a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “I have left GB News to launch my own independent platform Dan Wootton Outspoken which will feature a brand new daily news and opinion show from later this year that will NOT be regulated by the Ofcommunist censors. Free speech in Britain is in peril!”

Ofcom ruled on Monday that Laurence Fox’s “misogynistic” comments about journalist Ava Evans on Wootton’s GB News show broke broadcasting rules.

Actor-turned-politician Fox had asked “who would want to shag that?” when speaking about Ava Evans during an episode of Dan Wootton Tonight on September 26 last year.

Ms Evans shared the clip on X, formerly known as Twitter, and said the comments left her feeling “physically sick”.

Mr Fox, who at the time had his own show on GB News, doubled down on his comments, defending them as “free speech” in a lengthy post on X.

Wootton was suspended by GB News after the broadcast and has now confirmed he has left to launch his own “independent platform”.

In his statement on Tuesday, Wootton also said: “However, yesterday’s chilling Ofcom report clearly raises far bigger issues.

“How can any British broadcaster truly stand for freedom of expression when state goons have the power to decide what you are and are not allowed to say on air? Unlike the freedoms enjoyed in the US thanks to the First Amendment, how can these media outlets ever be anything other than controlled opposition?

“As the epitome of the deep state Liz Truss spoke about last week, the Ofcommunists have once again shown themselves to be a muzzle that bows to the woke mob and only attacks those with whom it ideologically disagrees.

“Post Office investigators, HMRC, the Police: the country is full of organisations that have gone rogue and disobey the directives of ministers and the will of Parliament.

“It’s not broadcasters who should be fearful of a carpeting from Ofcom: it’s Ofcom that should be summoned in by this supposedly Conservative government to be reined in.”

In a note sent to staff by GB News, the broadcaster said: “Dan Wootton joined GB News before its launch and was a part of the first on-air line up.

“Dan is no longer employed by GB News, and we thank him for his contribution and wish him well with his future endeavours.”

Additional reporting from the Press Association.