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Diane Abbott HobNob gag sees BBC show axed
By Georgina Littlejohn, London Lite Last updated at 12:37pm on 28.10.09The BBC has tried to avoid another race row by taking one of its current affairs shows offline after Labour MP Diane Abbott was referred to as a chocolate HobNob biscuit.
Taking the biscuit: Neil with Abbott and Portillo
Journalist Andrew Neil, the host of the BBC's current affairs show This Week, opened last week's programme with a joke about Prime Minister Gordon Brown's favourite biscuit.
He then compared his regular panellists as types of biscuit and said: “Here we have our very own chocolate HobNob and custard cream — Diane Abbott and Michael Portillo.”
The show was broadcast immediately after BNP leader Nick Griffin's controversial appearance on Question Time. And after only 15 complaints from viewers, BBC bosses immediately pulled the episode of This Week from its website and its on-demand service iPlayer.
A spokesman said: “Andrew's introduction chose two well-known types of biscuit at random but a few viewers have expressed concern that this might have been a reference to race.
“This was certainly not the case and the show would like to reassure them on this point and apologise if any unintentional offence was caused.”
But last night the BBC was accused of being “paranoid” and “institutionally politically correct”. Tory MP Ann Widdecombe said: “The BBC are totally paranoid about some things and utterly dismissive of other incidents.”
Reader views (11)
The issue here surely is about the timing of Andrew Neil's comments, coming as they did immediately after Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time. While Andrew Neil's comments were laughed off - and those who complained have been accused of a gross lack of humour - imagine the uproar that would have ensued had Nick Griffin made the same 'joke' on Question Time at the expense of say, Bonnie Greer and Jack Straw. My guess is he would have been lynched before he even had the chance to leave the studio. Double standards or what?
- Chris, London, UK
Unbelievable! Being refered to as a Chocolate Hob Nob is like being compared to a gold statue, or a pile of jewels. It's possibly the greatest biscuit there is! Being described as a custard cream is like being compared to something very common and bland. Race has NOTHING to do with it. Unbelievable!
- Remko, London
The comment was not meant to be offensive but it made a clear reference to skin colour...that was unnecesary, bearing in mind the recent BNP issue.
- Nyasha, London, London
i cannot believe people are bothered about that reference,there is very little racism in this country there will always be a difference in attitudes between races but racism is not the problem in England racism is in the mind half the time!
- Carole, London
I'm a big fan of the show and love the light-hearted put-downs that Andrew Niel dishes out each week to Abbott and Portillo, it makes what is basically a show about politics, lively, watchable and lacking in any pomposity and both Diane and Michael come across as normal people with a sense of humour.
- Jan,, Liverpool
i bet out of those 15 not one single black person complained or found it in the slightest offensive.
and BTW i'm black myself
- Chantelle, london
I am black and quite a fan of the show and I agree what was a light-hearted and warm comment directed at both of the panellists has turned into a pathetic fuss. More so, I doubt Dianne Abbott is thanking the 15 who chose (out of all the actual problems in Britain and the world to moan about) to draw their, and the BBC's prudish attention to something so laughable.
People who do not exercise common sense on how they attempt to tackle the issue of prejudice can actually do more harm to those who face actual discrimination by diluting sensible discussion with their utter stupidity.
- Naomi, London
With the BBC you have to laugh and cough a certain way. Everything is regulated. I am sure the 'people' who get offended are a bunch of people with absolutely no sense of humor...The 'real' horrors and race issues happen everyday in our neighbourhoods. These are ignored. Sad people!!!
- Ashley, London, UK
Utterly pathetic! Even if the comment was in reference to their respective skin colours, who cares?
It was a whimsical, affectionate comment. There was nothing mailcious or derogatory about it; no insinuation that chocolate hobnobs were somehow inferior to custard creams.
I bet all those who complained did so solely about the supposed reference to Diane Abbott's race and not about the fact that Portillo had also been defined by his skin colour.
Regular viewers will know that Andrew Neill always introduces these two with some light-hearted comment and has no doubt in the past made reference to their differing genders, hair colour, political views etc etc.
It was a perfectly innocent remark and I imagine you have to be quite a bitter person with a massive chip on your shoulder to consider it otherwise. I simply fail to understand how anybody could genuinely feel offended by such an innocent, inoffensive remark.
- Mike, London
I'd rather be a chocolate hobnob than a custard cream!
- Isabel, Woking
This is pathetic. The viewers who complained are pathetic. The BBC are pathetic.
- Alex C, London
