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Revision as of 16:58, 18 November 2008 by 86.131.13.225 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Jon Gaunt (born 3 March 1961 in Coventry), is a right-wing radio talk show presenter and newspaper columnist for The Sun.
Initially a left-wing supporter of CND, he studied drama at the University of Birmingham, founded a theatre co-operative in Coventry and wrote political plays. After the theatre project failed he was pursuaded by old acting friend Moz Dee (currently the programme director at talkSPORT) to audition for the local BBC radio station for which Dee worked.
Gaunt has worked for many radio stations, including BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC WM, BBC London 94.9, and BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. Gaunt was awarded three Sony Radio Academy Gold Awards in 2001. He most recently hosted a mid-morning current affairs show ("The Jon Gaunt Show") on talkSPORT. On November 18, 2008 it was announced that talkSPORT had terminated Gaunt's contract following an interview with Redbridge Councils Cllr Michael Stark on Friday November 7th. The decision followed an internal talkSPORT investigation that was instigated following complaints about the content and nature of the broadcast. The radio station apologised to the councillor for the manner in which the interview was conducted.
Gaunt has been no stranger to controversy in his career. He has faced the Broadcasting Standards Commission five times. On November 10, 2008 he was suspended by talkSPORT for calling a councillor at Redbridge council a "Nazi", and "an ignorant pig", on air.
Gaunt is regularly seen airing his views on ITV1's The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
References
- Burrell, Ian. "Jon Gaunt: 'I'm the voice of ordinary folk'", The Independent, January 28, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
- "Sony Awards 2001: The winners", BBC News, April 30, 2001. Retrieved October 12, 2006.
- "Local hero", The Guardian, May 7, 2001. Retrieved October 12, 2006.
- Maguire, Kevin, et al. "Author of media row letter takes the blame", The Guardian, May 23, 2001. Retrieved October 12, 2006.
- "Radio talk show host suspended after calling a guest a Nazi", The Daily Telegraph, November 10, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3416778/Radio-talk-show-host-John-Gaunt--suspending-after-Nazi-comment.html