‘They hate you, the general public’: Mark Dolan defends GB News against calls for the channel to be axed

After Laurence Fox and Dan Wootton’s suspension, MPs and journalists are calling for GB News to be taken off air. Mark Dolan argues that this is an attack on the channel’s viewers.

‘They hate you, the general public’: Mark Dolan defends GB News against calls for the channel to be axed
© Scott Campbell / GETTY IMAGES
‘They hate you, the general public’: Mark Dolan defends GB News against calls for the channel to be axed

On 26 September, Laurence Fox appeared on Dan Wootton’s show to discuss Ava Evans’ views on men’s mental health and the need for a Ministry for Men. In the segment Laurence Fox proceeded to attack not Evans’ views but her as a woman.

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Fox' now famous phrase Who'd want to s**g that?’ led to his and Dan Wootton’s suspension from GB News on 27 September. Following the channel’s decision another part of the controversy unfolded with Dan Wootton throwing Laurence Fox under the bus and with Fox retaliating.

The controversy also led to a media frenzy with journalists, experts and politicians calling for GB News removal from the air. Mark Dolan who has taken over Wootton’s show accused those attacks on GB News to actually be aimed at its viewership. A strong statement to make amid a raging polemic.

‘They hate you’

The statement was shared on GB News’ X account on 28 September. In the five minute clip, Mark Dolan directly addresses the attacks against GB News and the debate around whether or not it should remain on air.

Amongst his general comments on the fact that these attacks are motivated by a desire from the ‘establishment’ to see an opponent removed, Dolan makes a surprising and serious accusation.

GB News is rapidly growing a strong and loyal audience. And it threatens these established stars and the business model of their newspapers, radio stations and TV channels.
But in my view there is another darker reason why this scandal has been leveraged by those who wish us ill. They hate you, the general public, with your inconvenient beliefs and values. Ones that don’t align with theirs.

Within the same clip he added:

Calls by authoritarian journalists for this place to be shut down is an effort to silence you, our thousands of viewers and listeners.

GB News turned on their presenters

Under this clip shared by GB News on social media, X users have left comments. Of course, like under many GB News clips, their loyal fans are in full agreement with Dolan’s statement. However, some appear to have been disillusioned within the last few days.

Some comments read:

You showed your lack of backbone when you threw your colleagues under the bus last night .. Very poor show.
Was just thinking the same: Didn't Mark put on the tears and clutch at pearls yesterday regarding Laurence Fox? I don't trust any of them anymore.
And here we have @mrmarkdolan showing zero solidarity with Dan by happily taking over his slot. 🐍

Unfortunately for GB News such comments aren’t the only ones. Under the announcement of Dan Wootton’s suspension you can read:

they just showed what a bunch of pathetic, spineless channel they really are.
Shame on you for caving in to the perpetually offended wokerati. Rapidly morphing into the BBC.
Kiss goodbye to your popularity and growing audience. What's Dan Wootens phrase?..."Nobody will be cancelled".......Now he's cancelled. Who next?

It appears as if politicians and journalists asking for GB News to be axed isn’t the only problem they have. It also seems they also have 12 Ofcom 'active investigations' against them.

Not only that, did GB News forget the popularity of the presenters they suspended on 27 September? Can the channel survive this storm?

Read more:

Dan Wootton: What could be next for the presenter as politicians condemn him

Dan Wootton: The real reason why GB News will not investigate allegations made against him

Dan Wootton urged to comment as horrifying claims emerge about GB News

Sources:

GB News on X

X

Dan Wootton: The GB News presenter spotted on a rare public outing since suspension Dan Wootton: The GB News presenter spotted on a rare public outing since suspension