On the cold dawn of 14 October 2025, LBC Radio presenter Ian Payne told his listeners a story: a fox had become trapped in his underground car park. Instead of showing concern for the animal’s welfare, Payne mocked the situation, calling the fox “vermin” and joking about whether he should “just let it waste away down there.”
The incident, broadcast nationally, has provoked outrage across the UK. In just a few days, more than 10,000 people have sent complaint emails to LBC demanding accountability and compassion for wildlife.
According to Payne’s own account, the fox had slipped into the car park when the shutter opened and became trapped when it closed. Rather than ensuring its rescue, Payne speculated that since foxes do not understand key fobs, the animal was doomed unless someone else happened to trigger the door.
When listeners urged him to contact the RSPCA, Payne’s response was dismissive. He joked about “deporting” foxes, compared them to rats, and ridiculed those who expressed concern.
“This was not just an offhand comment,” said Protect the Wild, which is coordinating the public response. “When a national broadcaster laughs about a trapped animal and calls it ‘vermin,’ it reinforces the idea that wild animals are worthless and undeserving of empathy. That has real-world consequences.”
A Wider Problem: The Media’s Demonisation of Foxes
The controversy highlights a deeper cultural issue in how British media depicts wildlife. For years, foxes have been portrayed as “urban pests” or “car park invaders,” language that fuels hostility and normalises cruelty.
From sensationalist headlines like “Foxes Terrorise Village by Chewing Car Brake Cables” to talk radio segments mocking urban wildlife, these narratives distort public perception. They ignore the fact that foxes are protected in various ways under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and other legislation, and the wild animals play an important role in Britain’s ecosystems.
When major broadcasters describe foxes as “vermin” without challenge, they legitimise persecution and make cruelty easier to justify.
Our Demands
Protect the Wild is calling on LBC Radio, Ian Payne, and Global Media to take immediate action by:
1. Confirming that the trapped fox has been safely rescued and released.
2. Issuing a public statement acknowledging that calling wildlife “vermin” is unacceptable.
3. Committing to improved editorial standards and the inclusion of factual, science-based information about wildlife on air.
4. Hosting a dedicated segment on coexistence with urban wildlife, featuring animal rescue experts and conservation voices.
A Call for Respect and Reform
Foxes are intelligent, social, and adaptable animals who live among us because their natural habitats have been destroyed. They deserve empathy and protection, not contempt or ridicule. The language used by broadcasters matters. When animals are mocked on national radio, cruelty becomes normalised. When compassion is silenced, persecution grows.
Protect the Wild is urging the public to sign the petition calling on LBC to issue an apology, reform its editorial approach, and commit to responsible wildlife coverage.
