Fox News signals further drift to the right with Jesse Watters? new show

Fox News has promoted the controversial host Jesse Watters to a nightly primetime show, in an apparent cementing of the conservative network's shift even further right.

Watters faced calls to resign in December after he suggested people should "ambush" Anthony Fauci and "go in for the kill shot" by presenting the infectious diseases expert with conspiracy theories.

Instead, he will host his own show at 7pm on weeknights, Fox News said on Monday.

Jesse Watters Primetime permanently replaces what was once a relatively "straight" news show hosted by Martha MacCullum. As CNN reported, Fox News dropped MacCullum from 7pm after the 2020 election, replacing her with a slate of rotating rightwing personalities.

Fox News appeared delighted with the Watters news, with its chief executive, Suzanne Scott, praising his "versatility and hosting acumen" and "deep connection to the audience".

But Watters has a history of controversial statements and poor-taste programming.

He rose to prominence after he visited Chinatown in New York City for a segment on Bill O'Reilly's show in 2016.