Dan Wootton's dramatic downfall these past 48 hours has drawn some fitting comparisons to Al Capone getting done for tax evasion.
All of a sudden he's persona non grata at GB News – not because of the multiple, well-sourced allegations of serious sexual misconduct and workplace harassment that have clouded him for months; but because he sat grinning gormlessly, like a wallaby getting its balls tickled, as one of his guests delivered a hugely sexist rant unchecked.
However, there was a little more going on behind the scenes. Even though on screen he might have just looked hopelessly out of his depth, the reason Wootton has incurred the wrath of his bosses is because he was repeatedly and actively ignoring multiple management commands.
From the start of Fox's rant, the voice in Dan's earpiece was telling him to stop Fox, to push back and apologise – but he tuned it out. Then one of the senior bods drafted an apology for him to read out after the item – and he skipped past it on the autocue.
Then the top brass were on the phone to the studio, insisting Dan apologise on air – and he just didn't.
So satisfying to see this absolute piece of work get what's coming to him
Their newsletters are so old fashioned! I love them.
Sorry about that!
