Founder of Fox News, Roger Ailes, has died aged 77. A statement from his wife Elizabeth said she was “profoundly sad and heartbroken”, calling him a “patriot”.

Mr Ailes ran Fox News for two decades and is credited with transforming it into arguably the most powerful voice in conservative media.

He stepped down as Chairman last year after a number of female employees accused him of sexual harassment. At the time he said he was resigning because he had become a “distraction”, BBC reports.

Mrs Ailes’ statement said: “During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions.

“And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life.” The cause of his death is not yet clear.

Before joining Fox, he served as an adviser to several US presidents, from Richard Nixon to George Bush Senior.

Mr Ailes became the founding boss of Fox News in 1996, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox, turning it into a profits and ratings powerhouse.

It soon became a favourite of right-wing viewers, outpacing liberal-leaning rivals like CNN.