TV presenter Dan Wootton has left GB News 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.
Actor-turned-politician Fox made the comments about political correspondent Ava Evans during an episode of Dan Wootton Tonight on 26 September last year.
Neither Fox or Wootton said sorry while on air after the comments were made, but they did subsequently offer apologies.
Ofcom received 8,867 complaints.
In a ruling, the regulator said Fox’s comments "constituted a highly personal attack on Ms Evans and were potentially highly offensive to viewers".
It found Fox’s comments to be "degrading and demeaning both to Ms Evans and women generally" and "clearly and unambiguously misogynistic".
Wootton’s reaction and "limited challenge" in response "did not mitigate the potential for offence", the watchdog said, but "exacerbated it".
Following the ruling, Fox, who had already been sacked by the broadcaster, said in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter: "I’m not overly bothered about this anymore.
"I could have expressed myself better, that’s life and I’ve said my bit.
"I still think it’s one of the biggest pieces of confected outrage I’ve ever witnessed, but in the interests of openness and transparency."
Fox claimed that "everything" he said on air was "discussed and agreed with the production team beforehand" and they were "laughing and joking" about it.
He also alleged the channel has a delay so it could have "cut the feed, but they didn’t".
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."
Ofcom also announced on Monday it is launching a further investigation into Nigel Farage’s programme on the channel on 17 January.
A spokesman for the regulator said: "We are investigating whether this programme broke our rules requiring news and current affairs to be presented with due impartiality, and preventing politicians from acting as news presenters."
Source: Press Association
