BBC newsreader claims he was 'axed' for appearing on GB News

A BBC newsreader claimed he was axed from the broadcaster after appearing on GB News during the festive season.

Last month, Chris Middleton was featured on Martin Daubney’s show to discuss his charity Christmas song, which aims to highlight pensioner fuel poverty.

The song titled Freezing This Christmas, mocked Labour's controversial decision to strip winter fuel payments from 10 million pensioners.

On Tuesday, Chris reunited with Daubney to reveal that he had lost his job as a newsreader at the BBC.

He claimed he was fired for being on GB News and explained he was told his appearance constituted "a conflict of interest" with his BBC role.

Chris said: “The reason, as you might imagine, that I was told it was because it was a conflict of interest.

"It would be against the BBC's impartiality rules to allow me to continue my job as a newsreader while also putting out a song which of course it was political. The main goal of it was to raise money and raise awareness for pensioners.”

Speaking to Daubney, the broadcaster continued: “You were the first person in the news to actually contact me to speak about it. At that point, I had a choice do I stay anonymous and maybe the song won't do as well, or do I put my face out there?

“Do I put my name out there and try and push the song as much as possible and try and raise as much awareness, knowing that potentially it would cost me my freelance job with the BBC.

“Initially when I told them that I was coming on your show, I was going to speak about the song, this is what I was doing.

“They said to me, okay, you're doing this and basically you can't work here anymore, unfortunately,” Chris added.

Despite the loss of his job, the former newsreader stated: “I made the decision that it was the right thing to do, and I think it was the right thing to do.

"The amount of money that's been raised, the amount of awareness that's been raised for pensioners.”

The BBC has been contacted for comment.