MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 14:40:06| >> :600:110016877:110016877:

Jamie East discusses reason for talkRADIO exit

Jamie East admits that Mark Dolan's "hugely irresponsible" stunt of cutting up a face mask prompted his exit from talkRADIO this week.

Jamie East has admitted that fellow presenter Mark Dolan's "hugely irresponsible" face mask stunt was the catalyst for his talkRADIO exit.

The 46-year-old quit the station earlier this week after an incident in which Dolan cut up a face mask live on air while describing masks as "uncomfortable, scientifically empty" and "useless".

Speaking to Radio Today's podcast, East revealed that he had already been considering his future with the network for some time before handing in his notice this week.

"I probably make their teeth itch with how lefty, liberal, snowflakey I am, and on the flipside I didn't really want to be on a station where we were condoning people cutting up masks on air, which just seemed hugely irresponsible," he explained.

"So that was the straw that broke the camel's back and I just had to get my affairs in order before I could make the jump.

"I can understand the contrary arguing and the desire for creating a bit of outrage, but speaking as someone who had COVID quite early on and having relatives that have died from it, I find it pretty vulgar and horrible to see someone like Mark, who I know and respect as a broadcaster, [do that].

"It was an extremely misjudged, heat-of-the-moment kind of thing where somebody was trying to create a bit of a name for themselves and was after a few more shifts. It was just massively misjudged.

"I just didn't feel I could justify being sympathetic to sufferers of COVID and then having that as a stablemate, it just didn't feel right."

East will now focus his efforts on his popular daily news podcast series The Smart 7.

ID:416629: cacheID:416629:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2539:

Follow us on X/Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.

Media Mole Easter Offer: Get Sky Cinema, Sky Stream & Netflix for just £23 a month + £0 upfront fee for 18 months!
Prices may change during this period. Ends 2nd April 2024

Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jamie East
Read Next:
Jamie East quits talkRADIO after presenter cuts up face mask
>
rhs 2.0
New TV Picks header

Thursday, March 28


The Hotel Inspector: Channel 5, 9pm
She's back! Alex kicks off a new series by aiding a struggling tearoom in Somerset

The Apprentice: BBC One, 9pm
The remaining candidates must pick and sell items live on a TV shopping channel

EastEnders: BBC One, 7.30pm and iPlayer, from 6am
Callum tries to do what he can as the fallout from Ben's arrest continues...