More than 100 media personalities and journalists have signed an open letter in support of journalist Sangita Myska expressing “deep concern at her sudden disappearance” from LBC.

Radio presenter and former BBC reporter Myska, who hosted a show from 1pm to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays on LBC, has not been broadcasting at the station since reportedly being taken off air on April 20.

Last week, the station announced that Myska would be leaving at the end of her contract, having joined in 2022.

There has been mounting speculation on social media that the departure was due to an interview Myska conducted with an Israeli spokesperson.

LBC has kept the YouTube clip of the broadcast on its channel.

An open letter has now been published in support of Myska, with signatures from more than 100 media personalities, activists, broadcasters and lawyers including singer Church.

“We, the undersigned colleagues, friends, supporters and allies of Sangita Myska are writing to express our deep concern at her sudden disappearance from LBC,” the letter said.

“The unexplained disappearance for weeks of a high profile, popular journalist from LBC’s schedule – the only Asian presenter in a regular slot – shocked, upset and confused her peers and thousands of listeners across the UK, whose strength of feeling is palpable.

“The abrupt nature of Sangita’s departure, and the absence of an explanation, has been interpreted by many as the station’s complete disregard for industry standards relating to diversity, transparency and attributing value to its audiences, and concern that excellent journalists are at risk for simply doing their job and asking robust questions.”

The letter states that Myska, who attended a state school and received a grant to attend university, represents the everyday person in a media landscape “dominated by those with immense privilege”.

It concludes: “We stand in solidarity with Sangita Myska and look forward to the return of her valued journalism.”

It comes as more than 35,000 people signed a petition calling for LBC to reinstate Myska on Change.org.

One of the letter’s co-authors, journalist Dhruti Shah, said: “Sangita Myska is a journalist who has paved the way for many others in our field.

“Her journalism has been of the highest integrity and we look forward to the return of it. Our open letter is intended to show that Sangita has our support.

“The fact that more than 100 people have stepped up across a wide range of industries to sign shows the strength of feeling.”

A spokesperson for LBC has been contacted for comment.

The signatories were:

Professor Aaqil Ahmed, Former Head of Religion BBC and Channel 4 
Afua Hirsch, Writer and Broadcaster, Professor of Journalism
Aina J. Khan, Freelance Journalist
Alex Murray
Anoop Pandhal, Documentary Series Producer, Defiance, Channel 4 
Anu Anand, Presenter, Journalist and Podcast Host
Ariane Sherine, Journalist
Arif Asif, Operations Manager, Asian Media Awards
Arifa Akber, Chief Theatre Critic at The Guardian Ashish Joshi, Health Correspondent, Sky News 
Asif Kapadia, Film Director
Aysha Rafaele, Executive Producer
Barnie Choudhury, Journalist and Broadcaster Becky Gardiner, Goldsmiths, University of London Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, Journalist and Editor 
Charlotte Church, Musician
Clare Sambrook, Freelance Journalist
Corey Brotherson, Author
Dal Babu OBE, former Chief Superintendent Metropolitan Police
Darshan Sanghrajka, Founder at Super Being Labs
David Robson, Author
Professor Des Freedman, Goldsmiths, University of London
Dhruti Shah, Freelance Journalist and Creative Lead, Have You Thought About Diana Evans, Author
Dionne Shury Trotman, Former BBC Journalist
Emma Maxwell, Senior Producer, Channel 4 News
Fadah Jassem, Freelance Journalist
Fatima Salaria, Freelance TV Executive
Fay Nurse,
Gary Younge, Journalist, Professor and Orwell Prize Winner 2024
Hadassah Shah, Writer, Musician, Creator
Hamza Ali Shah, British Palestinian Freelance Journalist / Writer
Helena Wadia, Journalist and Co-host of Media Storm Podcast
Hewete Haileselassie, Journalist and Communications Specialist
Ishaq Khan, software engineer
Jackie Long, Social Affairs Editor, Channel 4 News
James Mates, Europe Editor, ITV News
James Wong, Botanist and Broadcaster
Jamie Klingler, Co-Founder Reclaim These Streets
Jamsheda Ahmad Young, Former Assistant Editor /Senior Journalist, BBC World News
Janey Starling, Co-director Level Up
Jat Dhillon, Freelance Journalist
Javed (Jah-Vhed) Thomas, Co-Founder of Race Equality Matters
John McDonnell MP
Professor Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics and Public Policy, King’s College London
Kate Watkins, Associate Professor of Journalism
Kehinde Andrews, Professor of Black Studies, Birmingham City University
Keme Nzerem, Freelance Journalist
Kwajo Tweneboa, Social Issues Campaigner
Leila Sansour, Filmmaker and Journalist
Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor, Channel 4 News
Lisa Hack, Audio Producer and Educator
Mai Noman, Journalist
Marsha Ramroop, Author, Inclusion Strategist and Former BBC Journalist
Dr Marcela Pizarro, Goldsmiths, University of London
Martin Forde KC
Mathilda Mallinson, Journalist and Co-host of Media Storm Podcast
Matt Walsh, Head of the School of Journalism, Media and Culture at Cardiff University Megha Mohan,
Melissa Sigodo, Journalist and Founder of The Thread Newsletter
Michael Morgan, Social Media Commentator
Misan Harriman, Photographer and Film Director
Mobeen Azhar, Journalist / Filmmaker
Mohamed Madi
Monisha Rajesh, Author
Nathan Holder, Author of If I Were A Racist
Nawal Al-Maghafi
Professor Natalie Fenton, Goldsmiths, University of London
Nina Robinson, CEO Soundtruism Productions
Nitin Sawhney CBE, Composer, Producer and Musician
Olivia Crellin
Dr Omega Douglas, Goldsmiths, University of London
Patsy Stevenson, Public Figure, Equal Rights Campaigner
Poonam Joshi, Foreign Correspondent and Women’s Rights Activist
Ramaa Sharma, Journalist and Executive Coach
Rasha Qandeel, Egyptian British Journalist, NUJ Member
Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi, Freelance JournalistReni Eddo-Lodge, Author of Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race Reshmin Chowdhury, Broadcaster
Saadeya Shamsuddin, Senior Journalist and NUJ’s Black Members’ Council
Sam Bright, Journalist and Author
Sean Adams, Editor, Drowned in Sound Seyi Falodun-Liburd, Co-director Level Up Shaista Aziz, Freelance Journalist Baroness Shaista Gohir OBE
Sheela Banerjee, Author and Journalist
Sheeraz Gulsher, Co-Founder of People Like Us
Sheetal Parmar, Freelance Journalist and Executive Producer
Shilpa Kannan, Tech Executive and Journalist
Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, Lawyer, Author, Activist
Shuiab Khan, Journalist and Columnist, Lancashire Telegraph and Asian Image 
Sonia Winifred, Psychodynamic Psychotherapist
Sophia Smith Galer, Journalist and Content Creator
Subhadra Das, Writer and Historian
Professor Sunny Singh, Author, Academic and Director of Jhalak Prize
Suresh Grover, Co-director of The Monitoring Group
Symeon Brown, News Correspondent, Channel 4 News and Author of Get Rich or Lie Trying
Tan Smith, Political Commentator, Supertanskiii
Tassia Kobylinska, Goldsmiths, University of London
Tayo Kazzim, Freelance Sync Licensing Manager
Tony Adams, Investigative Journalist and Broadcaster and Chair of NUJ Black Members’ Council
Yasmin Alibhai Brown, Writer
Yasmin Qureshi MP
Zarah Sultana MP
Zita Holbourne, Author, Writer, Poet, National Chair of BARAC UK