Rick Sanchez on Good Morning America (Source: ABC)

Rick Sanchez, the news anchor fired from CNN after an outburst in a radio interview last week, has apologised for his outburst in his first television interview since his contract was terminated.

Speaking to George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America, Sanchez said that he had been "tired" and "exhausted" when fronting up for the Sirius XM interview, during which he declared that The Daily Show's Jon Stewart was a "bigot" and appeared to imply that Jews controlled the United States' television networks.

Sanchez agreed with Stephanopoulos that his statements could have been construed as anti-Semitic.

"First of all, that's not what I meant. Second of all, I apologise and it was wrong for me to be so careless and so inartful. But it happened and I can't take it back and, you know what, now I have to stand up and be responsible," he said.

The television interview is far from his first apology after the incident, and covered much the same ground - in similar language - as his previous statements of contrition. After Sanchez was jettisoned by the news network, his wife published an apology through Facebook, while Sanchez himself sent a statement to the press on Wednesday, having earlier spoken with Stewart.

He issued yet another statement after the Good Morning America interview went to air, saying that he was trying to "repair my reputation with viewers". But he also took the opportunity during the interview to try to promote his new book.

During the interview, Sanchez reiterated his view that presenters and reporters from minority backgrounds had been poorly represented, but said that it had been wrong to "put it on Jon Stewart's shoulders". He said that he had come to the conclusion that Stewart was the "classiest guy in the world".

He added that if CNN wanted him to return at some point he would be "happy to go back". The likelihood of the news network wanting to rehire him, though, would appear to be small, despite his attempts to show penitence.

Media Spy discussion: CNN