BREAKING: Popular Comedian SENSATIONALLY QUITS Radio 4 After Explosive Fall-Out With BOSSES, Leaving Fans Stunned and Demanding Answers

Comedian Robin Ince has quit his Radio 4 show after falling out with BBC bosses (Image: Publicity Picture)

Comedian Robin Ince announced he has stepped down from his BBC Radio 4 show, which he has fronted for 16 years,after a disagreement with bosses about his political beliefs. The 56-year-old funnyman has hosted the hit comedy science show, The Infinite Monkey Cage, with physicist Brian Cox since its inception in 2009 and described his resignation as the “saddest day of my professional career” in a lengthy Instagram post. He admitted his views outside of the BBC, including criticism of US President Donald Trump and his support for the transgender community had been considered “problematic” by the powers that be, who called him into a meeting about them.

“This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show,” he began the post. “I always imagined going on until I dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show; A show that I named and helped develop over all those years.

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“Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter,” he wrote.

He explained that these opinions hadn’t gone unnoticed and he was called into a formal meeting where he realised he had no option but to quit.

“In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or ‘Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices’. I chose the latter. It broke my heart,” he confessed.

“I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer.

Robin Ince hosted his BBC Radio 4 show with Professor Brian Cox for 16 years (Image: Getty)

“I felt I couldn’t pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career,” he said. “I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning.”

“I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not ‘just a job’. Despite this, I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters.

“I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ society, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world.”

He signed off the post: “From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry.”