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The presenter Mike Graham has been dismissed from Rupert Murdoch’s digital channel TalkTV, after the company said he had failed to cooperate with an investigation into a racist post that appeared on one of his social media accounts.
Graham, 65, was suspended by the broadcaster, owned by Murdoch’s News UK, after concerns were raised about the message, which was posted on his Facebook account last month.
The post featured a picture of a statue of Winston Churchill, alongside a picture of a packed London underground train. It had the caption: “Tell me we’re not fucked by multicultural bollocks. Why are we surrounded by non-white people?”
The former editor of the Scottish Daily Mirror deleted the post and said the racist comment had been the result of his account being hacked.
Graham, who also presents the Plank of the Week podcast, wrote on his X account at the time: “On Sunday night my Facebook was accessed and a vile message was posted on my page without my knowledge.
“It contained words that I would never write and an opinion I don’t share. As soon as I found out I immediately deleted the post and have taken steps to ensure my cybersecurity is enhanced.
“Obviously I am mortified that such a post could have gone out in my name and am now attempting to find out how it could have happened. I am equally very sorry for any distress it has caused to anyone.”
However, staff were informed on Wednesday that he would not be returning to the channel, with bosses saying they had become “gravely concerned” over his alleged repeated failures to cooperate with an investigation into the post.
News UK said in a statement: “An abhorrent and vile post appeared on Mike Graham’s Facebook page in October. Mike Graham said this was not posted by him and he agreed to cooperate with a company investigation, using an independent forensic firm.
“He later reneged on several opportunities to cooperate with the company investigation.
“We have been gravely concerned at his repeated failure to cooperate on such a serious matter and the decision has been taken that Mike Graham will not return to Talk.”
Graham has been contacted for comment.
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The presenter had previously caused difficulties for the channel’s bosses. In 2022, TalkTV apologised to Mind after Graham claimed on air that the mental health charity funded the legal fees of asylum seekers.
Mind complained over the claims, which it has said were “plain wrong”, and pointed out that it was never approached for comment by the new channel.
In an on-air apology, TalkTV admitted wrongdoing during the show, in which it said it “questioned why various organisations, including Mind, were providing funding to a charity called Migrants Organise”.
“We didn’t offer Mind an opportunity to respond at the time and are happy to do so now,” it said. “We are sorry for any confusion caused by the discussion on the show.”
