Jon Gaunt sacked over 'Nazi' jibe

By Vicky Shaw, PA

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

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David Sandison

Jon Gaunt described a councillor as a 'Nazi' and an 'ignorant pig' during a debate on foster care policy

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The radio presenter who called a Conservative councillor a "Nazi" and an "ignorant pig" live on air has been sacked.

An investigation was launched after the remarks, made by Jon Gaunt on his Talksport radio show, generated "a number" of complaints from listeners.

During a show earlier this month, Gaunt was interviewing councillor Michael Stark about Redbridge Council's ban on smokers becoming foster parents, which will come into force in January 2010.

Mr Stark defended the decision on the grounds that the welfare of young children should be put ahead of the needs of foster families.

But Gaunt, who was in care as a child, accused his interviewee of being a "Nazi" and an "ignorant pig".

He then tried to tone down his remarks by saying Mr Stark was a "health Nazi" and arguing that children in care would be deprived of the chance of finding a foster home under the new policy.

At the end of the show, Gaunt made an on-air apology to his guest and was suspended pending an investigation.

A Talksport spokesman said today: "Talksport yesterday terminated presenter Jon Gaunt's contract following an interview with Redbridge Council's Councillor Michael Stark on Friday, November 7.

"The decision follows an internal Talksport investigation that was instigated following complaints about the content and nature of the broadcast.

"The radio station has apologised to the councillor for the manner in which the interview was conducted."

Comments

( Leave a comment )

jon gaunt sacking

phil58 wrote:

Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 06:28 pm (UTC)

what are you doing talksport,since taking gaunty off the air,you've put that boring,boring preseneter ian collins on,he just talks and talks,probably because no one is phoning in.i refuse to listen to him and have switched to another radio station.bring gaunty back, after all you had the sence to bring alan brazil back twice

phil goodman
copthorne w sx

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jon gaunt sacking

suedobbs wrote:

Wednesday, 18 February 2009 at 10:15 am (UTC)

Unfortunately, WE ALL say things sometimes, that we either immediately or later regret, Jon had the decency to apologise on the same show, his treatment was harsh and should be reconsidered, Mr Ross was disciplined and allowed to return to BBC and other celebrities / Royals have said far worse without anything being said, the show is missing a talented presenter and this will reflect in listeners ratings !!!

I call for the reinstatement of Jon Gaunt NOW

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Jon Gaunt - sacked

julieheale wrote:

Thursday, 19 February 2009 at 05:57 pm (UTC)

This is absolutely disgusting. What happened to freedom of speech. I back everything he said and to be honest he has been in the situation where he would understand what it is like to be a child in care. the problem with this country is that all their morals are wrong and we do not look after our own that is why this country is such a mess. For christ sake someone take on board the publics thoughts on these matters and make this country stand up to how others look after their own. Bring Jon Gaunt back, he is the most honest bloke I have heard on the radio. I say being him back.

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sacking

driver63uk wrote:

Sunday, 22 February 2009 at 09:52 pm (UTC)

well i was hooked i am a driver and talk sport was my station.john gaunt is fantastic entertaining honest and usually right .everyone has a right to air opinion and apologise after reconsidering.i know literally hundreds of people who have stopped listening to yalk sport.your wrong talk sport and i woint return unless john gaunt does .i disagree with lot he says but love the guy to bits.IDIOTS

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diymanrobbo wrote:

Wednesday, 4 March 2009 at 12:44 am (UTC)

re gaunt , i am laughing so LOUD now that mr gint sorry gaunt has been bounced out of the talk sport door, (the moron) , he was the reason i stopped listening, but now the bafoon has gone i am a listenen again , many thank for sacking him.

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jon gaunt sacking

dirtydonki wrote:

Thursday, 12 March 2009 at 10:22 am (UTC)

So much for freedom of speech.

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jon gaunt sacking

boxer4you wrote:

Thursday, 19 March 2009 at 01:42 pm (UTC)

Well i was shocked to hear about jon gaunt been sacked , talk sport has lost a very honest , interesting & yes controversial presenter . I used to listen all the time when he was on the air but sadly not now .Talk sport has become very boring with nobody prepared to challenge the politically correct or the establishment ...............what a shame .... hope we the listeners get to hear your views again .

martin brown Bradford

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Gaunt deseved it

onlyanopinion wrote:

Friday, 27 March 2009 at 12:52 pm (UTC)

John Gaunt was rude did not let people reply to questions and it was a matter of time before he was sacked.
you can't insult people in all walks of life and think only your opinions matter.
The public should decide who is right or wrong not a megalomaniac like Gaunt, thats is the basis of on air talkshow raising awareness and listening to all opinions.
He insulted hundreds of people without justification and in my opinion was more of a Nazi wanabee than any other broadcaster/presenter.

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Jon Gaunt deserved to be sacked

jamesbuckey wrote:

Monday, 8 June 2009 at 05:14 pm (UTC)

If you actually listen to the interview, the interviewee was being perfectly nice to Jon Gaunt, making well thought out comments and outlining the council's position/outlook etc and then Jon Gaunt just suddenly started being really rude to him, he randomly calls Mr Stark a nazi just because he works for a council that has used evidenced based research to tackle an issue and was generally rude to him throughout the interview. I doubt this is the first time Mr Gaunt has made remarks like this about people and from this interview alone it is clear he is unsuitable for this kind of work. He cannot be impartial, he is rude, offensive and clearly enjoys making inflammatory remarks. Finally, he seems just to be a bit of a dick in general.

Everybody who is making comments complaining that "there's no such thing as freedom of speech in this country" please do me a favour and pull your head out of your arsehole. Jon Gaunt was sacked because his employer decided that what he said was inappropriate and in breech of his contract (which he signed), he has not been arrested or enslaved by the government. He can say whatever he wants in private, when he made these remarks he said them as a Talksport employee.

Returning to the main issue, the council have every right to demand that foster carers not smoke, if the people want to foster that much due to their love of children, they will be prepared not to smoke. If not then they aren't suitable people anyway.

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