Apparently the sexual harassment scandal was potentially queering the second run at Sky in England (Europe?) that News Corp was attempting. The first attempt was scuttled by the Rebekah Brooks phone hacking shenanigans.
It is easier to drop a 67 y/o whose demographics are 75 to dead and replace him with much cheaper talent and keep your global deals on track. Maybe they can get out of the gold/silver coin, reverse mortgage and lubricated catheter business and attract better advertisers with a younger, more appealing host.
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"I'm a minor character in my own story", Steve Coogan as Tony Wilson in 24 Hour Party People