Former talkSPORT presenter Jon Gaunt has lost his appeal against a High Court ruling upholding Ofcom’s decision in 2009 to censure him.
Gaunt appealed after losing a high court freedom of expression challenge against Ofcom’s ruling that the interview breached its broadcasting code. However, three court of appeal judges have now rejected his appeal against the high court’s July 2010 decision.
The UTV station sacked Gaunt after he called a councillor a “Nazi” and “ignorant pig” on air in 2008 but claimed the watchdog’s decision to uphold complaints against him in June 2009 was an unlawful interference with his freedom of expression.
He later issued an on-air apology and clarified his comment, saying he meant to say “health Nazi” instead.
Ofcom issued its ruling against Gaunt in May 2009, saying the “persistently bullying and hectoring” interview “had the potential to cause offence to many listeners”.
An spokesman said: “We are pleased that the court of appeal has agreed with Ofcom that Jon Gaunt’s interview was a breach of the broadcasting code.
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Posted on Friday, June 17th, 2011 at 12:51 pm by RadioToday Staff