Is BBC set to pull plug on Ian Hart?
5:00pm Tuesday 17th March 2009
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By Ruth Lumley »
A sports pundit who was once suspended in a row over insulting disabled people on air is rumoured to be on the verge of leaving his radio show.
Ian Hart did not host his Brighton and Hove Albion football phone-in show on BBC Southern Counties Radio on Saturday night.
Instead it was hosted by comedian Stephen Grant. Posts on North Stand Chat, a Seagulls internet fan forum, have speculated that this could be Mr Hart s last season as a pundit for BBC Southern Counties Radio.
A post from one forum user said: "Getting the idea that this may be Harty's last season as the phone in host."
Another user added: "Harty is beautiful in his ramshackle, goingtosaysomethingincomprehensiblydaftanyminute way."
In November, Mr Hart and broadcaster Andrew Hawes, who has spent a decade commentating on Albion matches, were both suspended from BBC Southern Counties Radio after the pair used the term "windowlicker" on air, a derogatory term for a mentally disabled person.
The tasteless joke, made during a fans phone-in after a Seagulls match, sparked a backlash from disabled charities.
But both pundits were reinstated after the football club, Albion fans and charities gave them their support.
Mr Hawes announced on the radio a few days later that he was resigning and said it was time for him to try other things.
In February, Gordon Astley, who presented the station's 10am to 1pm slot, left the BBC but details of his departure were kept under wraps.
Angry fans of his show demanded an explanation for the presenter's departure.
Mr Astley is contracted to the BBC until April.
A spokeswoman for BBC Southern Counties Radio said Mr Hart had been on a day off on Saturday and that there may well have been rumours but that as far as she knew he would be presenting tonight's show.
5:00pm Tuesday 17th March 2009
Comments (3) Have your say »
By Ruth Lumley »
A sports pundit who was once suspended in a row over insulting disabled people on air is rumoured to be on the verge of leaving his radio show.
Ian Hart did not host his Brighton and Hove Albion football phone-in show on BBC Southern Counties Radio on Saturday night.
Instead it was hosted by comedian Stephen Grant. Posts on North Stand Chat, a Seagulls internet fan forum, have speculated that this could be Mr Hart s last season as a pundit for BBC Southern Counties Radio.
A post from one forum user said: "Getting the idea that this may be Harty's last season as the phone in host."
Another user added: "Harty is beautiful in his ramshackle, goingtosaysomethingincomprehensiblydaftanyminute way."
In November, Mr Hart and broadcaster Andrew Hawes, who has spent a decade commentating on Albion matches, were both suspended from BBC Southern Counties Radio after the pair used the term "windowlicker" on air, a derogatory term for a mentally disabled person.
The tasteless joke, made during a fans phone-in after a Seagulls match, sparked a backlash from disabled charities.
But both pundits were reinstated after the football club, Albion fans and charities gave them their support.
Mr Hawes announced on the radio a few days later that he was resigning and said it was time for him to try other things.
In February, Gordon Astley, who presented the station's 10am to 1pm slot, left the BBC but details of his departure were kept under wraps.
Angry fans of his show demanded an explanation for the presenter's departure.
Mr Astley is contracted to the BBC until April.
A spokeswoman for BBC Southern Counties Radio said Mr Hart had been on a day off on Saturday and that there may well have been rumours but that as far as she knew he would be presenting tonight's show.
