View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
January 3, 2019updated 30 Sep 2022 7:18am

Telegraph hires former Waitrose Food magazine editor William Sitwell after departure in vegan row

By Charlotte Tobitt

The Telegraph has appointed William Sitwell as a writer and commentator, two months after the former Waitrose Food magazine editor stepped down over comments he made in an email to a freelance in which he proposed a series on “killing vegans”.

Sitwell will write a new restaurant review column for the Telegraph’s Saturday magazine and website, starting this weekend, and will also contribute occasional features for the newspaper.

Jane Bruton, the Telegraph’s deputy editor and director of lifestyle, said: “I’m delighted to welcome William to The Telegraph and his new weekly column will be an insightful addition to Saturday’s magazine.

“With a wealth of experience as a food critic, author and broadcaster, he will bring a unique voice to our existing roster of talented journalists and critics.”

Sitwell stepped down from his former role in October as he apologised “to any food- and life-loving vegan who was genuinely offended by remarks written by me as an ill-judged joke in a private email”.

Freelance food and travel writer Selene Nelson contacted Sitwell on 23 October with a pitch for a series on vegan cooking. Waitrose has recently expanded its range of vegan and vegetarian products.

Sitwell’s reply the same day, first reported by Buzzfeed News, read: “How about a series on killing vegans, one by one. Ways to trap them? How to interrogate them properly?

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“Exposing their hypocrisy? Force-feed them meat? Make them eat steak and drink red wine?”

The Telegraph also announced today that Michael Deacon will take up a new column in the Saturday magazine later this year to replace his food column. His parliamentary sketches for the newspaper will continue.

Picture: Shine TV/BBC

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network