The BBC presenter Ed Stourton, “sacked” last week from his job on the flagship radio programme Today, has accused the corporation of double standards for allegedly treating him in a worse manner than Jonathan Ross.

Stourton, 51, said his dismissal from the Radio 4 news programme after 10 years’ “unblemished service” was in sharp contrast to Ross’s current suspension for making lewd telephone calls to the actor Andrew Sachs.

He only learnt of his demise on being called for comment by another journalist. His editor later confirmed the rumour.

Stourton, nicknamed “Posh Ed” for his perfect diction, told The Mail on Sunday: “Some of my family have pointed out the contrast between what happened to Ross over his remarks and what happened to me for 10 years’ unblemished service to the BBC. He was suspended, I was sacked.”

The BBC has not given a reason for Stourton’s dismissal simply saying he is being released to work on “other projects”. But it comes weeks after he referred to the late Queen Mother as “a ghastly old bigot” in It’s a PC World, his book on political correctness.

Stourton is expected to continue presenting Today until next September when he will be replaced by the BBC’s North America editor Justin Webb.

Mark Damazer, controller of Radio 4, said : “Ed Stourton will continue to grace Radio 4 after he leaves Today. He is a distinguished journalist with a terrific track record in a host of Radio 4 programmes.”

Ross was given a three-month suspension by the BBC for his part in the “Manuelgate” scandal. The pre-recorded show also led to the resignation of Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas and co-presenter Russell Brand.

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