Nigel Farage blasts Ofcom after TV watchdog launches investigation into him

Nigel Farage has blasted the television watchdog Ofcom after it launched an investigation into whether he is really a politician mascarading as a TV presenter.

The award winning TV host and former UKIP and Brexit Party leader told Express.co.uk: “For 2.5 years there has been no problem. Why now?”

Mr Farage is said to be furious about the investigation which was announced in a Tweet today by Ofcom.

It came after Ofcom concluded another investigation into GB Ne3ws’ host Dan Wootton and former host Laurence Fox deciding they had breached the rules in a tirade against a female journalist.

There have been concerns about the ay senior politicians, including Tory MP Caroline Nokes, have been pressing Ofcom to take GB News off air.

In its initial statement on X (formerly Twitter) Ofcom said that it was investigating “whether Farage, GB News (17 January), and [former Conservative chairman] Sir Jake Berry, TalkTV (12 December), broke due impartiality rules and rules preventing politicians acting as news presenters.”

On both occasions the two men had breaking news on their shows,.

While Sir Jake is still an MP, Mr Farage has left active politics and sources have pointed out that during his stint i n the jungle for “I’m a Celebrity” he was described as a television presenter.

He also won a major award last year for best news presenter at the Television and Radio Industry Club (TRIC).

The claims against him are based on him still being honorary president of Reform UK although he has not taken an active role in the party since stepping down as leader before he joined GB News.

Mr Farage and his supporters have questioned why it has taken Ofcom two and a half years to have a problem with him having breaking news on his show.

Previous complaints have been about current Tory MPs including Esther McVey, Philip Davies and Jacob Rees-Mogg who have all worked for GB News.

An Ofcom spokesperson: “We are investigating whether this programme broke our rules requiring news and current affairs to be presented with due impartiality, and preventing politicians from acting as news presenters.”

The main problem will be that if Ofcom find against Mr Farage he will be barred from presenting during a general election under broadcast rules.