Axed: Ian Wright, left, with fellow Live From Studio Five presenters Kate Walsh and Melinda Messenger, has been sacked by Channel 5 Ian Wright was last night sacked from Channel 5 after refusing to promote the broadcaster’s shows.
The former Arsenal player, 46, was axed from his nightly show, Live at Studio 5, after a row with executives when he refused to promote the channel’s ailing talent show Don’t Stop Believing.
A friend of the veteran sportsman – who has been capped 33 times for England – said: ‘Ian is not a puppet. Don’t Stop Believing has lost nearly a million viewers and he was told to come on air and say how great the show was, but he refused.’
Wright had hosted the chat show from its launch last year. But he was taken off air last night following his dispute with new executive producer Chris Shaw, who has made a series of harsh changes to the programme.
He was only told the news just hours before he was due to arrive at the studios.
The source said: ‘Ian knew he didn’t want to go on the show and act like he loved Don’t Stop Believing.’
The former footballer was also said to be upset with the drastic changes, which included cutting the show down from an hour to half an hour – and telling Wright’s co-hosts, Jayne Middlemiss and Kate Walsh to stop their banter.
The source added: ‘In half an hour you can’t have an opinion, the presenters can’t talk amongst themselves.
‘Ian believed that Channel 5 put no money into promoting his show and all the money into Don’t Stop Believing.
‘He will head back to being a pundit – but the power has really gone to this producer’s head.’
No support: Former pro footballer Ian Wright refused to promote Channel 5's ailing talent show Don't Stop Believing, hosted by Emma Bunton, Tamzin Outhwaite, Chucky Klapow, Duncan James and Anastacia Wright had been continuing to host the show, despite having an operation to fuse his ankle bones last month.
This could spell the end for the show, which will run until December.
Wright’s friend added: ‘Ian wouldn’t have walked out because it would have been unprofessional. He had even been coming in in a wheelchair and then crutches after the operation.
‘But to be honest he doesn’t need to do it, so it’s probably best to be off what is now a steadily sinking ship.’
A spokesman for Wright told the Mail: 'Ian will no longer be appearing on Live at Live 5.'
Glory days: Ian Wright during his playing days with Arsenal Football Clubsource: daiymail
