Jon Gaunt is frank, forthright, blunt, presumptuous, strident, and definitely not self effacing. He is also described as downright down to earth and the voice of the silent majority. In theatre dates, the mouth of Britain promises to kick Political Correctness and liberal Britain in to touch.
He has a weekly Sun column, a best selling autobiography, “undaunted.” Gaunt spent part of his childhood in care. He recovered after being torn apart by bankruptcy. In essence he is perfect role model material – a success story, someone I would use as an example to my own children.
I never thought I’d say this, but for what it’s worth, I’m going to stick my tuppence into the pot and support the once very loud calls to reinstate Jon Gaunt. So what went wrong?
Gaunt was sacked by Talksport in the run up to Christmas, after labelling an Ilford Councillor a "Nazi" and an "ignorant pig". He apologised publicly and said that he had actually meant to label Councillor Michael Stark, who was defending Redbridge Council's decision to ban smokers from becoming foster parents a “health Nazi."
“This is the same warped logic that condemns black children to a life in care rather than let them be fostered by white couples” he had said, adding, “the same master race philosophy that forbids fat couples from adopting.”
It was a gesture regular listeners had become accustomed to from the West Midlands firebrand. In a previous show, a heated exchange at the Parliamentary building in Brussels led to Finnish MEP Alexander Stubb accusing gaunt of being racist.
In events since that have caused astonishment to many, even our very own Ms Liberty; Shami, Shami, Shami Chakrabarti has called on Talksport to review the matter and reinstate Coventry’s greatest mouth.
Gaunt’s tirades were and are still used by racists to stoke the flames of racism and Islamophobia, although he readily claimed that the BNP labelled him a “traitor”.
I used to equally hate and despair at Gaunt, his anti Muslim stances that fuelled such vitriol, and his opposition to the Burka, and the way he felt it was his business to lecture women regarding their chosen attire. I clapped my hands with much merriment and mirth when Gorgeous George Galloway regularly tanned his backside on air.
I used to feel such anger with James Whale when I first started to listen to him, primarily because he’d always call Omar Bakri or Anjum Choudhury when he needed an “authority,” a “mouthpiece” for on Islam and Muslims. Now I’m by no way asserting that these individuals are not qualified to comment, but I felt they weren’t right for me. They didn’t represent my take on things and their exploitation by Whale as “representatives” of Muslims made me resentful.
But I persevered. And years after I began to realise the true worth of Whale, a giant of the airwaves and a ‘peoples’ representative. The late great Mike Dickens was very similar. He shouted out his mind at all times, but also possessed a very strong sense of fairness.
But there’s a certain aspect of Gaunt’s character that stops me going out all guns blazing and label him an outright Islamophobe/ racist/ homophobe. And that’s his honesty. Jon Gaunt won’t stab you in the back, he’s not a hypocrite. If he doesn’t like you, he’ll bloody well make it clear, and in the loudest possible way. If he befriends you and fights your corner, it’ll be for life. Gaunt is a character that won’t hide, he’ll lift himself of the canvas, again and again.
Those who are regular Talksport listeners may recall the infuriating moment when Gaunt referred to the Director of Liberty as; “the most dangerous woman in Britain.” Chakrabarti has even gone as far as to offer legal representation and support to Gaunt on human rights grounds and I agree with her stance.
And who was it that bought the plight of Gurkha hero Tal Bahadur Pun to the nations attention? The same courageous and lionhearted Bahadur, who had fought for Britain during the war. Yes, it was none other than Gaunt, whose campaign was the major contributory factor in securing well earned rights for this giant of a war hero.
I always wondered though how long he could continue to blow hot air as I felt that for all his shouting and screaming he would always be last man standing. Every individual has good value and if anything, Gaunt has kept many personalities and organisations in check and on their toes. He has ruffled the feathers of corporations, fatcats and bigwigs and the public, individual or collective have reaped the rewards on numerous occasions.
Having said that, I am a massive fan of the Don of the airwaves - Ian Collins. This has ensured not having to stay up late just to listen to the great man.
I’m not intending to sign up for his fanclub, nor attend An Audience With Jon Gaunt – Live And Undaunted. I will however support shouts to bring back Gaunty, but definitely on a different time schedule.
Gaunty is appealing his sacking. You can express your delight or dissatisfaction by emailing Andy Taunton, the Chief Executive at Talksport – www.talksport.net
Emdad Rahman
