Thursday, February 5, 2009
Another BBC scandal: backlash over sacking Carol Thatcher
It's ironic that just as Jonathan Ross has recently returned to British television - after being suspended for three months because of his vulgar, lewd remarks that were left on an answering machine for an elderly man and then were broadcast on a BBC radio programme - another BBC scandal is being reported in the news.
This time, it's about a remark by Carol Thatcher that was made in private and yet the BBC decided to sack her from The One Show. I certainly don't defend Carol's racist remark - describing a black tennis player as a "golliwog" - but I do think that since she said it in private, the BBC does not have the right to fire her. Indeed, it seems very hypocritical of the BBC to make such a harsh judgement about what was said in private considering the "Sachsgate" affair when Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross said much worse on a radio programme that was broadcast! Following that incident, the BBC bowed down to overwhelming public anger and eventually suspended Ross for three months but very controversially, the BBC didn't choose to sack him (Brand simply quit).
This latest incident is again leading to a lot of public anger aimed at the BBC as thousands complain to BBC for dropping Carol Thatcher in race row. (link via guardian.co.uk)
There is also a BRING BACK CAROL THATCHER Petition
I think that since Carol Thatcher's remarks were made in private, the BBC had no right to sack her. A private conversation is exactly that. Is the BBC now becoming Big Brother? And isn't it strange that Carol Thatcher can be sacked over her remark that was made in private and yet Jonathan Ross and other so-called comedians and presenters on the BBC are allowed to swear and make vulgar, disgusting jokes and lewd comments on BBC programmes?
What do you think?
related posts from my blog:
The big story in Britain: BBC and the "Sachsgate" scandal
Jonathan Ross returns with jokey apology
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I agree and one has to wonder how much the fact that she is Margaret Thatcher's daughter has influenced the decision.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about that too, Jenny. I think it's quite possibly a factor.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, they have certainly become hypersensitive. I wonder how much of this is a result of being beholden to the license payers? Certainly if I had to pay a special fee just to view their station I guess I would want a say in what gets aired too, but where do you draw the line?
ReplyDeleteBTW, thanks for stopping by my blog Maureen.
Hi Melissa!
ReplyDeleteActually, I don't think the BBC cares what the licence payers think until they get overwhelmed with complaints such as what happened over the Sachsgate scandal.
I agree that Carol Thatcher's remark describing a black tennis player as "a golliwog" is defintely not politically correct but she made the remark in an off-air conversation. This incident only shows how hypocritical the people at the BBC are since they fired Carol over her remarks that weren't broadcast and yet they allowed J.Ross/R.Brand to broadcast their despicable comments on a BBC radio programme.
In addition, if the people at the BBC were really worried about being politically correct, they wouldn't broadcast half the remarks made on BBC programmes (Top Gear is one). And many of the so-called comedians and presenters on the BBC are known for their "edgy" remarks (in other words - not politically correct).
I think they have made Carol Thatcher a scapegoat. They need to be seen doing something but it's all backfired on them. The BBC can't have it both ways, with over-paid presenters like Jonathan Ross only suspended, not fired for his part in the Sachsgate scandal and then letting someone go for saying something that isn't even broadcast.
And yes, the fact that everyone has to pay a licence fee every year to support the BBC is another big factor in this latest scandal. I think the British public are finally making their views known, and quite right too!