Laurence Fox – latest: GB News suspends presenter Calvin Robinson as Ava Evans issues new response

Journalist Ava Evans said that it “wasn’t a goal” of hers to get Dan Wootton and Laurence Fox suspended from GB News but she just “happened to be the person they picked on that night”.

The channel announced on Wednesday (27 September) that it had suspended the pair after what they called “totally unacceptable” comments made by Fox on Wootten’s evening show.

“This isn’t really about me, at all, I just so happened to be the person that they picked on that night and went too far with,” Evans said, speaking to Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV.

“It wasn’t a goal of mine to get them suspended from the programme.”

More here:

Good morning, here’s your round-up of the latest updates on Laurence Fox:

Fox: I’ll be sacked

In a 15-minute video posted to X on Thursday night, Laurence Fox admitted he expects his bosses to sack both him and Dan Wootton on Friday morning.

The right-wing former actor said: “I know I’m going to get sacked tomorrow. I’m saying this stuff to clear my own conscience.”

Ofcom investigating Dan Wootton’s GB News show

Ofcom received around 7,300 complaints about the Tuesday programme of Wootton’s show which saw guest Laurence Fox make a series of personal remarks about a female journalist.

It is investigating under Rule 2.3 of the Broadcasting Code which states when “applying generally accepted standards broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence is justified by the context”.

Laurence Fox apologises for ‘demeaning’ comments made about Ava Evans on GB News

Laurence Fox apologised for his comments made on GB News about journalist Ava Evans, saying “I’m sorry for demeaning you in that way”.

MailOnline terminates contract with columnist Dan Wootton amid GB News furore

Dan Wootton’s MailOnline column has been terminated following his suspension from GB News over remarks about a female journalist made by Laurence Fox on the broadcaster’s show.

The 40-year-old had written a regular column for the online outlet since 2021 but it was paused in August while the publication investigated allegations he used a pseudonym and offered colleagues money for sexual material.

The chief executive of GB News says he was “appalled” by comments made by Laurence Fox on Dan Wootton’s show.

In his first interview since the incident, Angelos Frangopoulos told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the broadcaster has a “process to follow”, but expects the internal investigation to be “resolved very quickly”.

The former Sky News Australia chief executive added: “I was appalled by those comments they are not in keeping with the values with us as a business and obviously we took action immediately.

“…I was horrified by what was said….that comment should not have gone to air.”

The chief executive of GB News has issued a personal apology to Ava Evans following Laurence Fox’s sexist comments aired on the channel.

Angelos Frangopoulos said Laurence Fox’s comments were “way past the limits of acceptance” and “do not reflect” what the media company believe is an “appropriate conversation”.

He said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: That should not have happened. The way it was handled was also not the way it should have happened.

“They did not reflect what we believe is appropriate conversation as a media company, as a part of the national conversation, it really is an apology, it was just really inappropriate.”

The chief executive of GB News says he was “appalled” by comments made by Laurence Fox on Dan Wootton’s show on Tuesday evening.

Angelos Frangopoulos told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Fox’s comments were “way past the limits of acceptance” as he launches as investigation into the incident.

GB News presenter Michelle Dewberry clashed with former home secretary Jacqui Smith during a debate on the future of the news channel.

The pair went head-to-head on Good Morning Britain on Friday, with Ms Dewberry accusing Ms Smith of “chuckling” at one of the points she was making on impartiality.

“Don’t have a go at me, Michelle,” Ms Smith responded during the exchange.

After a bit of back and forth, she then asked the GB News presenter to clarify her “actual point” instead of “accusing” her of laughing.

The boss of GB News has insisted that an “interview” of Home Secretary Suella Braverman by her Conservative colleague Lee Anderson will be “duly impartial”.

Angelos Frangopoulos defended the broadcaster’s practice of getting Conservative MPs who are being paid to host shows to have discussions with their colleagues in Government.

With four serving Tory MPs on its bankroll, GB News has been coming under increasing scrutiny from Ofcom over the practice, and has once been found to have breached the rules.

Mr Frangopoulos insisted the MPs’ work is “absolutely permitted under the Ofcom rules”, arguing that none of them host “a news bulletin-based programme”.

“If that changes in the future then obviously we’ll look at it,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He billed their discussion that will be aired on Lee Anderson’s Real World on Friday evening as an “exclusive scoop”, and as the “first interview on British soil since her landmark speech this week in the US”.

GB News presenter Calvin Robinson has tweeted his support for his colleague Dan Wootton, following his suspension from the channel.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Robinson said he “will not be appearing on Dan Wootton Tonight without Dan Wootton.”

The British cleric and conservative political commentator added: “We failed as a community to stand up for Mark Steyn. If we let them do the same to Dan, it’s over. The channel will be on borrowed time, we will all be the next in the firing line.”

He also claimed that channel bosses were “scared” and encouraged his colleagues to ‘stand up’ for the suspended host.

Laurence Fox quoted the post and said: “There are very few courageous people in this world. @calvinrobinson is one of them.”

Dan Wootton was suspended by GB News on Wednesday afternoon following his reaction to Laurence Fox’s sexist comments on his show on Tuesday night.

The chief executive of GB News Angelos Frangopoulos told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday morning that the channel has a “process to follow”, but expects the internal investigation to be “resolved very quickly”.

Carol Vorderman says Lee Anderson MP’s upcoming interview with Suella Braverman “seems like a challenge to Ofcom”.

Conservative vice chairman and GB News presenter Lee Anderson’s interview with the Home Secretary is set to air on Friday at 7pm.

With four serving Tory MPs on its bankroll, GB News has been coming under increasing scrutiny from Ofcom over the practice, and has once been found to have breached the rules when two Tory MPs interviewed a Tory chancellor.

Carol Vorderman tweeted her opinion on the matter, responding to a comment from Tory MP John Nicolson, saying the “tipping point” for the channel is ‘getting closer’.

GB News boss Angelos Frangopoulos insisted the MPs’ work is “absolutely permitted under the Ofcom rules”, arguing that none of them host “a news bulletin-based programme”.

“If that changes in the future then obviously we’ll look at it,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Laurence Fox is due to give an exclusive interview discussing ‘the future of GB News’ this afternoon.

Fox reposted a post from the TRIGGERnometry podcast announcing the interview, that is set to go live at 12:15pm on Friday.

The podcast anticipates that Fox will be discussing the “furore” and the “apology” he issued following his sexist rant on GB News on Tuesday evening.