Mike Graham, the 65-year-old presenter of TalkTV’s flagship afternoon show, has been dismissed from the Rupert Murdoch-owned channel after failing to assist an investigation into a racist social media post. The post, which appeared on his Facebook account last month, featured a picture of Winston Churchill alongside a crowded London Underground train, with a caption criticising multiculturalism.
Graham deleted the post and claimed his account had been hacked, stating: 'It contained words that I would never write and an opinion I don’t share.' However, TalkTV’s parent company, News UK, announced on Wednesday that Graham would not return, citing 'grave concerns' over his repeated refusal to cooperate with an independent forensic probe into the incident.
The broadcaster 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. He later reneged on several opportunities to cooperate. We have been gravely concerned at his repeated failure to cooperate on such a serious matter.'
Graham, a former editor of the Scottish Daily Mirror and host of the 'Plank of the Week' podcast, had previously caused controversy for TalkTV. In 2022, the channel apologised to the mental health charity Mind after Graham falsely claimed on air that it funded legal fees for asylum seekers. TalkTV admitted it had not sought comment from Mind before broadcasting the claims.
His dismissal marks the end of his tenure at the digital channel, which launched in 2022 as part of Murdoch’s News UK stable. The company’s investigation into the Facebook post will continue without his involvement.
