VIEWERS have complained to Ofcom about GB News’s coverage of the Gaza-Israel conflict.
The broadcast regulator got 373 complaints about November 1’s GBN Tonight, hosted by Patrick Christys.
The show, which airs weekdays from 9pm, is advertised as the “feistiest and most fun nightly news debate” and features celebrity guests, interviews and news coverage.
On Wednesday, Ofcom said there had been “complaints related to reporting of the ongoing Gaza/Israel conflict, with complainants expressing concerns about impartiality”.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson's team were like 'wild animals', top official says
Over the course of the programme, Christys spoke about Sir Keir Starmer marking Islamophobia Awareness Month and the Labour leader being under pressure over his stance on the conflict in Gaza.
Christys also covered antisemitism and pro-Palestine protests in the light of the conflict in Gaza.
Dan Wootton had been hosting a weekday programme from 9pm until actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox made on-air remarks about a female journalist.
READ MORE: Carol Vorderman praised after being forced to quit BBC job
On the Dan Wootton Tonight programme on September 26, Fox made a series of personal comments about political correspondent Ava Evans and asked: “Who would want to shag that?”
Fox and Wootton apologised with the former, who also hosted a programme on the channel, sacked.
An internal investigation into Wootton, who was suspended, was announced by GB News in September.
Ofcom is investigating the episode and has several other open investigations into the broadcaster.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel