Telewest posted a 42% reduction in its interim net losses to £239m and showed strong customer growth of its broadband internet service, Blueyonder. Telewest now has 192,000 broadband internet subscribers, having signed up 15,000 users in less than two months.
Total sales for the six months to June 30 increased 4% to £674m. Earnings before interest, depreciation, tax and amortisation in six months were £184m, up 30% on last time. Analysts had forecast a figure between £174m and £178m.
Singer, who is a well-known popular figure in the media industry, joined Telewest when it took over Flextech, the company he ran, in 2000.
He is believed to have been sacked following a number of clashes with the Telewest board, which is currently in negotiations with US cable giant Liberty Media about a bond restructuring.
Telewest has debts of £5.3bn, and it is believed to be trying to carry out a similar kind of bond issue that helped its larger rival NTL get rid of some of its £12bn debt mountain earlier in the year.
Telewest chairman Cob Stenham said: "Given our current financial position, the independent directors believe the company needs a different management style to take the business through to its next phase."
Telewest's shares have fallen from 563p at the height of the telecoms boom in early 2000 to 2p.
The news will come as a surprise to the UK media industry, which had been expecting to see Singer lead Telewest into a merger with NTL.
Telewest's finance director Charles Burdick will take over the running of the company as managing director.
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