James Whale sacked over London mayoral election comments

May 7 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

RADIO presenter James Whale has been sacked following complaints about him urging listeners to vote for Boris Johnson in London’s mayoral elections.

Ofcom is investigating comments made in Whale’s broadcast on TalkSport on March 20.

A spokeswoman for the regulator said it is looking into three complaints.

TalkSport, which carried out its own investigation, said that Whale’s contract had been terminated after a breach of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code regarding impartiality.

The statement said: “It’s very unfortunate. James Whale is guilty of a gross error of judgment which we found to be totally unacceptable.”

The TV and radio and broadcaster has presented late night phone-ins for decades, starting on Metro Radio in Newcastle.

The 56-year-old presenter’s agent Stuart Hobday said that Whale was “deeply disappointed”.

“He’s spent 13 happy years at TalkSport,” he said. “He’s saddened at the way this has happened and it’s come as a huge shock.”