STAR TV HOST Tucker Carlson and Fox News have agreed to “part ways” according to a statement released by the network. 

The controversial host of Tucker Carlson Tonight - one of the most popular cable news shows in the US – is among the most recognisable faces in American political coverage, particularly on the right.

The announcement comes only days after Fox settled a lawsuit with electronic voting machine company Dominion for $787.5 million.

A statement released by the network said:

“Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” the network said in a statement.

Since becoming Fox’s most popular personality after replacing Bill O’Reilly in the network’s prime-time line-up in 2016, Carlson has consistently drawn headlines for controversial coverage, including most recently airing tapes from the 6 January Capitol insurrection to minimise the impact of the deadly attack.

There was no immediate explanation from Fox about why Carlson was leaving.

His name came up during the recently settled case with Dominion Voting Systems, primarily because of email and text messages that were revealed as part of the lawsuit.

In some of them, Carlson privately criticised former president Donald Trump, saying he hated him passionately.

A few weeks ago, Carlson devoted his entire show to an interview with Mr Trump.

Fox News Tonight will air in Carlson’s 8pm ET prime-time slot, hosted by a rotating array of network personalities, for the time being.

In other news, it has been announced that Don Lemon has been fired from rival US network CNN. 

In a tweet, the veteran news anchor claimed that he found out that his contract had been terminated this morning through a phone call from his agent. 

“After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. 

“At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear there are some larger issues at play,” he said, before going on to thank his colleagues. 

With additional reporting from © AFP 2023 and Press Association