BBC bosses have forced Robin Ince to step down from Radio 4’s Infinite Monkey Cage over his social media posts backing pro-trans and other progressive causes.

The comedian has co-hosted 207 episodes of the Radio 4 popular science show with Professor Brian Cox since it started 16 years ago.

But at a recording last night, he told the stunned audience the news that bosses at BBC Studios – the commercial programme-making arm of the Corporation – that he was forced to choose his conscience over his job.

Speaking at the Niamos Theatre in Manchester, he said: ‘Unfortunately, it’s been deemed that my off-air opinions in terms of being supportive towards the trans community and BBC science presenter.

‘It's broken my heart to do this, and I'm sorry to put you in that awkward position, but I wanted to say, I wanted to tell the last audience I've ever seen about this, because I know it's the end of my radio career. 

‘I just wanted to say that I was inspired by my dad. My dad always believed in justice, and he believed in faith, and I believe that the world at the moment is going towards a very parlous state in terms of extremists and bigots, and fewer and fewer people seem to be able to stand up and say anything without losing their job or being pushed into silence.

‘I'm very lucky because I have a level of privilege, which means I am able to resign  from this job, and I am able now to, I hope, stand up and represent – whether it's people in the LGBTQ+ community, whether it's people on hunger strike in prisons, whether it is so many of the other groups that are maligned…'

He also quoted Sinead O'Connor saying ‘the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost’ and US civil rights activists James Baldwin, who said that ‘prejudice is just another word for cowardice’  and Audre Lorde, who said ‘the only regret she saw in her life were her silences’.

Ince added: ‘I don't want to have that regret, and it breaks my heart.’ 

Ince’s recent social media posts have included supporting those with ADHD (of which he is one) against critical comments from Health Secretary Wes Streeting; British Library workers taking industrial action; Palestinian Action campaigners on hunger strike – and critical of anti-trans campaigners.

A BBC spokesperson told Chortle: 'A BBC spokesperson said: "We would like to thank Robin Ince for everything he’s done for Infinite Monkey Cage over the past 16 years and wish him all the best for the future.  We will announce more Monkey Cage news in due course.'

Other BBC sources suggested that managers disputed Ince’s version of events.

In a post on BlueSky, the comedian further explained his decision, saying: ‘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.

‘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.

‘I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence.

‘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 to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters.

‘Despite this I should add that 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".

‘I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, 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.

‘From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too.’

Late last night he added: ‘Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.

'Not easy to get to sleep tonight - have burnt the bridge of whatever career I had left and really don’t feel that my opinions are so extreme that that should have been necessary.’

He was flooded with messages of support from listeners.

One told him: ‘ You brought so much humanity to The Infinite Monkey Cage and made quantum science accessible to a far wider audience and brought far more understanding than Prof Brian Cox could ever have done on his own. I don't know how they might replace you and I don't think they should even try. Thank you.’

Another called it a ‘victory for bigots,’ adding: ‘Robin Ince is a treasure. TERFs ruin lives when allowed.’

And another said: ‘Wow. The fact that supporting trans people is incompatible with working for the BBC says everything about the BBC.Solidarity with Robin Ince.’

And Dan Sohege, director of human rights consultancy Stand For All, commented: ‘Robin Ince once more showing what an amazing person he is. It's tragic that we are in a world where opposing transphobia and hate means having to resign, while being transphobic and hateful means getting regularly featured by national media outlets.’