GB News host Dan Wootton has seen his MailOnline column paused while the publication investigates allegations he used a pseudonym and offered colleagues money for sexual material.
Wootton, a former executive editor at the Sun, had written a regular column for the online outlet since 2021, with his last article published on June 29.
Last month, the TV presenter and columnist used his self-titled GB News programme to admit he had made “errors of judgment” in the past but branded the “criminal allegations” as “simply untrue”.
It came in response to a Byline Times investigation. On Thursday, that paper published the seventh part in what it has reported to be a three-year investigation into Wootton.
It alleged that the GB News host "used an identical password as the catfishing pseudonyms ‘Martin Branning’ and ‘Maria Joseph’" for his danwootton.com website.
The publishers of MailOnline and his previous employers at The Sun have said they are looking into allegations made against the New Zealand-born star.
GB News have continued to broadcast his show, Dan Wootton Tonight, which "promises no spin, no bias, no censorship".
A spokesperson for DMG Media, which publishes MailOnline, told the PA news agency: “We are continuing to consider a series of allegations which Dan Wootton – who has written columns for MailOnline since 2021 as one of several outside freelance contributors – has strenuously denied.
“The allegations are obviously serious but also complex and historic and there is an independent investigation under way at the media group which employed him during the relevant period.
“In the meantime, his freelance column with MailOnline has been paused.”
Last month, Culture, Media and Sport Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage wrote to The Sun requesting details of the newspaper’s investigation into Wootton.
The Sun’s editor Victoria Newton issued a letter in response which said: “We take these allegations seriously but we are in no position to comment further and indeed we make no commitment to make any further comment depending on the outcome of our investigation.”
During his time at The Sun, Wootton was best known for breaking stories including Megxit – the withdrawal of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from royal duties.
In January 2021, he announced he would be leaving his job as executive editor at the tabloid, where he had previously edited The Sun’s Bizarre column.
He was showbiz editor at the now-defunct News of the World and previously appeared on ITV’s Lorraine as the showbiz correspondent.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel