‘This is a Network Problem’: Dan Wootton Suspended from GB News

GB News has suspended its lead prime-time presenter Dan Wootton and his co-presenter Laurence Fox after regulator Ofcom pledged to “assess” the actor and activist’s outburst on last night’s edition of Dan Wootton Tonight.

During the interview, Fox said of political journalist Ava Evans – as Wootton laughed along – “who’d want to shag that?”

Wootton, who is the highest-paid host on £600,000 a year on GB News, smiled and laughed as Fox denigrated Ms Evans, branding her a “little woman”.

“Show me a single self-respecting man that would like to climb into bed with that woman ever, ever, who wasn’t an incel,” Fox said. “We need powerful, strong, amazing women who make great points for themselves. We don’t need these sort of feminist 4.0. They’re pathetic and embarrassing. Who’d want to shag that?”

In the exchange, which today provoked a media backlash, Wootton chipped in: “I’m just going to provide a touch of balance”, saying that Ms Evans had responded to comments aimed at her about her take on male mental health. Then he added: “She is a very beautiful woman.”

On discovering she was the target of both men’s misogynist speculations, Ms Evans said on X (formerly Twitter): “Laurence Fox just did a whole speech on GB News on why men apparently won’t shag me…  I feel physically sick.” 

She later told her employer Joe Politics: “This is actually nothing to do with me. This is a producer, presenter problem. This is a network problem.”

Following Fox’s suspension from the channel, Wootton posted on X: “I apologise unreservedly for what was a very unfortunate lapse in judgement on my part.” His comments appear to have prompted Fox to publish their private messages, after last night’s on-air exchange about Ms Evans. 

In a tweet, Fox said “honesty is the best policy” and posted messages showing Wootton apparently using laughing emojis, writing of the exchange: “Can you imagine them freaking out in the Gallery!!!!!” as Fox replied: “So much fun. xx.”

Fox also published messages to support his claim that his interview with Wootton was pre-agreed with show planners and that GB News knew what he intended to say on air.