ITV News presenter Alastair Stewart is stepping down from his role following what the programme called “errors of judgement” in his use of social media.
During a row with Martin Shapland, a black former Liberal Democrat council candidate, the 67-year-old broadcaster posted a Shakespearean verse from Measure for Measure, which included reference to an “angry ape”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a statement, the journalist said that he made a “misjudgment which I regret”, adding that it had been a “privilege” to work at ITV.
The Sun says Stewart was “forced out,” while The Telegraph adds that Stewart’s colleagues “lamented his departure”.
The Daily Mail reports that an ITN insider has defended Stewart. The source said: “He would have thought he was being clever and it was merely an innocent put-down. He is certainly not a racist in any way.
“It is sad if he has had to go because of this. He will be the first man ever fired for accurately quoting Shakespeare.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Meanwhile, Duncan Golestani, a presenter on both BBC and ITV, described Stewart as “one of the kindest men in broadcasting”, while BBC Radio 3 presenter Katie Derham said Stewart was “a very dear friend and colleague” and added: “He will be missed.”
ITV presenter Julie Etchingham wrote on Twitter that she was “so sad to learn this - we have worked on many big stories together & Al is a trusted friend and guide to many of us”.
Stewart was the longest-serving male newsreader after joining Southern Television in 1976 and then ITN in 1980. He began fronting News at Ten nine years later.
He was named presenter of the year by the Royal Television Society in 2005, and was awarded an OBE the following year.
Stewart’s Twitter account has now been deactivated.
-
Moon dust has earthly elements thanks to a magnetic bridgeUnder the radar The substances could help supply a lunar base
-
World’s oldest rock art discovered in IndonesiaUnder the Radar Ancient handprint on Sulawesi cave wall suggests complexity of thought, challenging long-held belief that human intelligence erupted in Europe
-
Claude Code: the viral AI coding app making a splash in techThe Explainer Engineers and noncoders alike are helping the app go viral
-
Is a social media ban for teens the answer?Talking Point Australia is leading the charge in banning social media for people under 16 — but there is lingering doubt as to the efficacy of such laws
-
How Utah became a media focal pointIn Depth In producing the stars of #MomTok and reality TV alike, Utah has emerged as a media powerhouse
-
Australia’s teens brace for social media banIn The Spotlight Under-16s will be banned from having accounts on major platforms
-
Are boomers the real phone addicts?In The Spotlight There’s an ‘explosion in screentime’ among older people – and they’re more vulnerable to misinformation
-
The six-seven meme that has taken over the worldIn the Spotlight With roots in rap and basketball, the phrase has young people obsessed, and it could be here to stay
-
BookTok is reviving publishing – but at what cost?In The Spotlight Social media recommendations are boosting book sales but critics give the trend mixed reviews
-
The rise of the performative maleTalking Point What the latest internet trope tells us about gender roles, dating and male illiteracy
-
The rise of performative readingIn The Spotlight Why Gen Z may only be pretending to read those clever books
