Thursday, November 20, 2008

You know, it couldn't have happened to a more deserving fellow...

'Nazi' remark presenter is sacked

This from a BBC report later the same day:

Talksport host Jon Gaunt has said he is "bemused" by the radio station's
decision to sack him for calling a local councillor a "Nazi" live on air.

A clue as to why they sacked him might well be the fact he called someone a Nazi and an "ignorant pig" ON AIR...

Gaunt has been called a "shock jock" by just about every station he's worked for - although this mis-uses, misunderstands and vitally discredits the value of "shock jocks". He isn't one at all, he's a rude, arrogant bully how shouts at his guests if they disagree or try to express another view. I've heard some appalling views expressed on TalkSport over the years, and the fact that listener complaints prompted the station to sack him really says something... "Shock jocks" get sacked for pushing boundaries too far... not for intimidating people with abusive language.

Even the hundreds of supporters that he says have been in contact - or even the "national celebrities" that have expressed support (his book has a nice comment from Anthea Turner on it, so maybe that's the level we're looking at) couldn't save him. And rightly so.

Supporting local causes on local radio - airing the public's views and allowing debate on these subjects is what he, rightly, came to fame for - he deservedly won a Sony Gold for coverage of Vauxhall's decision to close their factory in Luton while he was at BBC Three Counties Radio. Not this - controversial broadcasting is one thing - and shouldn't be discouraged. But there's a far better way than to initimdate, bully and scream.

Monday, November 17, 2008

We apologse for the delay to this service...

As you'll have realised, should you be reading this blog, we've had an extended break from the blog, following the end of Series 4. This was obviously to make sure we made absolutely no headway whatsoever on the back of the plug the Who Cast kindly gave us back in July...

So let's start this creaky machine back up again... And we have things to talk about.There's a new Christmas special now only 5 weeks or so away (the Children In Need sampler of which got me whimpering with excitement like the man-child I am),

Obviously the news that now not just RTD is going, but David Tennant too, the prospect of a spectacular end for their tenures and the brave new world of the Vast Toffee MN - and the inteminable debate on who should take the role. Expect the Sun to fill pages with these rumours. Its nice to know that a national "News"paper is interested in the show... but maybe not if they're going to suggest Ross Kemp has accepted the role...

[Read the rest here]