Iain Dale Returns To LBC As Host After Dropping Out Of Election

Dale returned to his week night slot on Monday after quitting his job last week to run as a Tory parliamentary candidate. (Screengrab LBC/YouTube)

Iain Dale, who quit his role as an LBC host last week to run as Conservative parliamentary candidate for the upcoming general election before dropping out of the race just 48 hours later, returned to the station on Monday evening.

Dale abandoned his electoral bid Friday following backlash to resurfaced comments made on a podcast in which he said he “never liked” the constituency he was running in, his hometown of Tunbridge Wells.

In the resurfaced clip, from a 2022 episode of the podcast For The Many, Dale told co-host and former Labour MP Jacqui Smith, “I have lived in Tunbridge Wells since 1997, slightly against my will” adding: “I’ve never liked the place, still don’t, and would happily live somewhere else.”

Social media users also circulated other clips of Dale storming off set on Good Morning Britain during a debate and footage of his tussle with an anti-nuclear protester in 2013.

In an exclusive interview with LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Dale said how it had been “an absolute wrench to… say goodbye” to his LBC role and that his decision to run for election was a “mistake.”

During the interview Dale appeared emotional and unsure what his next steps were. He told Ferrari that he would “take time to reflect.”

It appears, however, with reflection done over the weekend, LBC have pulled him on board again where he will resume his show every week night, 7pm – 10pm.