The home of free speech, is it? A veteran journalist and broadcaster has accused GB News executives of kicking him off-air on Saturday evening, after he launched an explosive tirade about the channel while appearing on one of its shows.
GB News descends into chaos after guest lets loose
Michael Crick, formerly of Channel 4, hit-out at GB News in a discussion about censorship. He called the network a ‘right-wing channel’, criticising them for having a constant stream of Tory MPs and Brexit Party leaders presenting various shows.
According to a version of events shared on his Twitter account, Crick was ‘expelled’ from the studio after he was marched out during an ad break. He reveals that he agreed to leave following a ‘furious’ exchange with an unnamed executive:
“I’ve just been expelled from GB News studio after being invited there. When asked why I thought Ofcom should close GB News down – I said because it’s a right wing channel dominated by Tory and Brexit Party politicians.”
“Eventually, during a break, an angry producer of the programme marched in and said ‘Out’, and pointing at me, ‘You, Out! He said I’d refused to “move on”, in terms of topic. Gosh he was furious. So anyway, I left.” | Michael Crick
Watch: Michael Crick allegedly removed from GB News after critical speech
Crick’s diatribe against GB News was a spectacle itself. He branded OFCOM ‘weak’ for failing to properly regulate the channel. He told host Neil Oliver that he and his colleagues were in ‘a clear violation’ of the rules. You can watch a video of the exchange below:
“I left Channel 4 because it was too left-leaning, but I think OFCOM must get a grip. You are a right-wing channel, and the rules are very clear. When Nigel Farage takes time off, he gets replaced by the Reform UK leader. Johnson, Rees-Mogg, Davies, all them…” | Michael Crick
Host admits ‘decision made’ to close-down critic
Oliver himself addressed the issue following the conclusion of the commercial break. He admitted that it was ‘disappointing’ the conversation wasn’t allowed to carry on, and he blamed ‘the work of others’ for shutting down the discussion early:
“I’m very disappointed about that sequence of events. The last thing I want to see during a conversation between adults about censorship is that conversation being brought abruptly to a close by others. That talk should have gone on to its conclusion.” | Neil Oliver