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Carol Thatcher
Offensive remark: Carol Thatcher

BBC asks Carol Thatcher to apologise for likening tennis star to a golliwog

Danny Brierley
3 Feb 2009


THE BBC is seeking a formal apology from Carol Thatcher after she referred to a tennis player as "a golliwog".

The daughter of Margaret Thatcher is a roving reporter on The One Show and made the comment after Thursday night's edition while in the green room with its presenter, Adrian Chiles, and other members of the production team.

It came during a conversation about the Australian Open tennis tournament and was understood to have been a reference to one of the players in the men's competition.

A BBC source said Chiles was "very shocked" and others in the room told Thatcher they found her language offensive.

Friends of the journalist and author said the remarks were made jokingly during a private conversation that took place after several drinks in the green room.

A BBC spokesman said: "The BBC considers any language of a racist nature wholly unacceptable. We have raised the issue with the individual concerned and are discussing it as a matter of urgency."

A spokesman for Thatcher, 55, who has been a regular contributor to The One Show for three years, said that the comment had been "an off-the-cuff remark made in jest".

He added: "Carol never intended any racist comment. She made a light aside about this tennis player and his similarity to the golliwog on the jam pot when she was growing up.

"There's no way, obviously, that she would condone any racist comment - we would refute that entirely. It would not be in her nature to do anything like that."

Reader views (46)

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Carol.
No apology? Good for you! It's about time someone in the public eye, stood up & fought back, instead of groveling in front of this idiot political correctness, that's poisoning this country.Go girl,DONT GIVE IN.

- john macdonald, birmingham uk, 07/02/2009 10:45
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She has just shown her true colours.Most racists are careful about what they say in public. She after a few drinks was caught with her guard down and people saw her for what she is a RACIST!
This is further confirmed by here stupid attempt to hide the remark as a Joke! and the silly attempts by her publicist to claim it was not a racist remark!

She should be band from the BBC and all TV there should be no room for racists in the media. What was the BBC thinking about when the employed her!

- Sam, London, 04/02/2009 10:35
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There seems to be a growing general acceptance of offensive comments particularly of a racist nature is recent months and years. Yes I accept that there are times when society can be too PC, but there should be no circumstance where offensive comments has a place our socalled 'multi-cultural society'. There also appears to be a class gap about what is acceptable and what is not. For example, offence is taken at any reference to Nazi, where conveniently the British were not involved, and no one should change this view. However why is it more acceptable for Terms such as Sooty, Paki and Golliwog to still be used by so-called educated peoples in today's society? This is inexcusable and to use excuses like the financial state of the country is nothing to do with the subject, just another diversionary tactic to seep the Racist views under the carpet.

- PH, London UK, 04/02/2009 09:53
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The level of sensitivity towards racist comments has become skewed in recent years, we are now extremely quick to attack the slightest infringement, often heavy handedly. So I can understand that the case in questions seems like much of the same.

But as a black male now 32, who was fortunate enough to have spent his youth growing up in this country (and enjoyed it very much) I was personally called a Golliwog repeatedly when growing up and I can assure you there is no humor to be found in the insult.

It is both racist and deeply offensive, there is no getting around that.

Does Carol Thatcher deserve to be dragged across hot coals and made an example of? Absolutely not. But she does need to understand that what she said is offensive and unacceptable and a simple apology will suffice.

We all make mistakes and Im sure the public in question will understand.

A racist remark said in private is still a racist remark, the only difference is that it offends less people.

- RBK, London, UK, 04/02/2009 09:08
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Only a half-witted fanatic would put a malicious interpretation on the mention of a stuffed toy - especially as she was talking about Andy Murray.

- Erica Williams, London, UK, 04/02/2009 08:37
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How bloody sad.... This country is in a depression, more and more people are becoming depressed and the BBC thrive on preaching doom and gloom, get a life! Before long it will have generated an entire organization full of PC clones with everyone afraid of smiling in case they offend someone. Carol Thatcher comes over as a down to earth jolly individual who I have no doubt meant no offense with this remark.... Let us name the individual who was in this private room and privy to the conversation to see if he or she is whiter than white.

- Terry Jones, Anglesey, 04/02/2009 08:34
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Carol Thatcher clearly has no understanding of the cultural connatations of the term she used, despite its well known link to slavery. To use it in jest about any black person shows a complete disregard of sensitivity to the feelings of other people. She should be sacked altogether from the BBC if she fails to recognise this and apologise unreservedly. Even then, formal disciplinary action ought to be taken - especially if she has already undertaken the BBC's anti-racism training. There is no place for such boarish behaviour in our society, let alone among the well-paid glitterati of the broadcasting set.

- Terry, Norfolk UK, 04/02/2009 08:00
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"Sir! Sir! Thatcher said 'Golliwog' Sir! That's not right is it Sir!" When I was at school it would have been "No one likes a snitch, Chiles, back to your desk!" Nowadays it's "go to the top of the class!" I can imagine two people going for the same job at the BBC: "I believe the other candidate once watched the Black & White Minstrels ....."

- Paul, London, 04/02/2009 07:48
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If Carol has to go then Ross should go.Golliwog i use the word lots of times and why not?

- stan white, leeds, 04/02/2009 06:58
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Saddo's from the BBC unite. I will celebrate when this nasty biased Government's lap dog dies a much needed death.
As for the show, pitiful.

- Roger, Surrey, 04/02/2009 06:33
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Good old Kev of London! Where would we be without his badly spelled comments on each and every story! Get a life Kev.

- serena, London UK, 04/02/2009 06:07
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Bet the complainent was Jo Brand. She was a guest at the same time. She was the one who told people to put poo through the letter box of BNP members who were on the leaked list. Of course nothing will happen to Ms Brand, left-wing Labour supporters get away with blue murder. And this is the BBC remember.

- Sylvia, Epping. Essex, 03/02/2009 23:49
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This reminds me of the Gestapo and the Communist States of old where people were expected to inform on friends, you couldn't trust anyone.
Carol please leave the One Show, it's a terrible production with amateur style presenters.

- Frank Harvey, London, 03/02/2009 23:22
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Chiles is only trying to distract from the rumours of him boning his co-worker

- mr b, westfield, 03/02/2009 22:38
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The BBC are making an issue out of this remark, yet Ross
can insult an actress by expressing a desire to f... her
and nothing is done or said by the corporation.

- Malcolm May, Windsor, Berks, 03/02/2009 21:59
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If Carol Thatcher has been sacked from the one show, then Jonathan Ross should have been shown the door for his indiscretion.

- Jerry Heath, Brighton, England, 03/02/2009 21:50
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How ridiculous.

- Roger Slade, Winchester, Hampshire, England, 03/02/2009 19:05
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The day the BBC lose their licence fee will be a great day for me it,s left wing bigotry and political correct stance makes it a laughing stock as pointed out by Keith Lonsdale.
When will we get our country back and feel safe making light hearted comments without fear of castigation by the likes of the BBC.

- Ericrigby, UK, 03/02/2009 18:12
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Pathetic.... really pathetic,.... and I'm not talking about the remark. I'm talking about the so called friend who couldn't wait to rush away and tell the World that Carol Thatcher made a racist remark during a private conversation over drinks.
Carol, with friends like these who needs enemies. What a terribler namby pamby society we are turning into.

- James, Malta, 03/02/2009 17:35
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Are we not said to live in a country where Free Speech is alive and well because if not how do we allow every Tom Dick and Harry and immigrant tell us what and not what to do and our government just rolls over like some lame dog and sayes nothing. Let some one drop there fut in it and God Help us. The BBC should Keep there own house in order before making themselves look more fools than they do already, ie J Ross for one .

- Hamilton Straker, Ealing London, Uk, 03/02/2009 16:59
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Some of us look like something on earth. Some references can be PC becuase of loose associations and others not so. I heard the other day someone was described as having the jaw of a bulldog, so that is OK by the PC gestapo. To me a golliwog is someone with spiked hair sticking up from the head. Perhpaps porcupine means the same thing but is less offensive. The parasitical BBC are now being PC when itsuits them

- Ralph, London, England, 03/02/2009 16:41
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In most people's eyes she only has a job in the media because of who her mum is. Whenever I have seen her on the box she is a best dull and uninteresting. The sooner she is replaced by someone witty, intelligent and entertaining the better.

- Kathy L, London, 03/02/2009 16:16
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I'm glad that she was taken to task for making that remark. Even a private remark can't be let go off because it just shows up the true feelings and nature of of the person making it. Condescending patronising and discrimnatory. I blame the parents. Carol was obviously not brought up to treat others with respect. She should apologise publically. Last week Charles and Harry; this week Carol; who I wonder will be next out of the box.

- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex, 03/02/2009 15:50
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The BBC is quiet right,she has no business making comments about peoples looks quiet apart from the racist over tones.What ever next?jokes about disabled people,or old peoples looks?Its nothing to do with PC,its all about manners and common decency and respect.

- Kev, London-UK, 03/02/2009 14:31
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How tedious. I bet somebody had been waiting for a possible chance to attack Mrs Thatchers daughter.

- Stephen, London, 03/02/2009 14:18
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I am surprised that the BBC devoted so much time to reporting the snow, after all it is white. English snow has been white for hundreds of years and some should be done about this unfair domination.

- Tom, Watford (UK), 03/02/2009 14:11
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So the girl likes a drink and jokingly made a light aside in private to a bunch of TV minnows. I have no doubt Carol never intended any racist comment but, sadly, Carol the sooner you realise these people are no friends of yours the better. Shame on them rather than on you Carol.

- Daniel, London, 03/02/2009 13:55
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Be in/on BBC Television and Radio programs as lewd, crude, offensive and abusive as you like. THIS will not distress the BBC to the point where it expresses it's indignation (unless they are indundated by protesting emails, letters and phone calls from viewers/listeners). However you MUST ensure that every word you utter IN PRIVATE is PC. I'm sure Carol had no intention of offending or slighting anyone.

- Marie Pestano, Worcester Park, 03/02/2009 13:51
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The term is outmoded & & the imagery offensive - colleagues of Carol Thatcher are fully entitled to point that out to her, mind you I doubt that she could assimilate changing values & moderate her vocabulary or behaviour

- Jezza, Woodford, 03/02/2009 13:49
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We should no longer be required to pay a Licence Fee, for the PC brigade at the Beeb. The eavesdropper should be sacked forthwith, it is not yet illegal in this country to have a private conversation, Carol Thatcher should not be made to go on bended knees for an overheard conversation taken out of context.
The PC Brigade are a loathsome bunch of twits.

- Ros, London UK, 03/02/2009 13:46
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Well if she meant a lovable colourful childhood toy (which I never had and always wanted) that's one thing, but if she said it in any way that could be linked to racism she's got to say sorry pretty pronto irrespective of who she or her mother is.

- Roz, Chamonix, France, 03/02/2009 13:39
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When will this PC madness stop?!?!?! Right wing idiots with nothing better to do than spending all day on their PC moaning about everything and anything in order to make their sad lives seem relevant.

She said something incredibly racist and offensive - with her education and background she must have known she was in the wrong, but still she did it. End of story...

- Jason, london, 03/02/2009 13:30
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Yet another 'political correctness' storm in a teacup initiated by one or more pathetic person(s)who want once again to cause trouble. Personally I would fire the individual(s) who complained.

- David Pounds, Lee on the Solent UK, 03/02/2009 13:00
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There is an old saying that apples do not fall far from the tree and you can think of her father saying this. This is a generational thing and most people will not understand what she is talking about.

- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England, 03/02/2009 12:47
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I wouldn't bother with the BBC if i were you; they'll always be on your case for having committed the heinous crime of being the daughter of Britain's greatest post war Prime Minister.
Your mother is the antithesis of everything that this tax-payer funded left-liberal propaganda machine stands for.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 03/02/2009 12:39
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Obviously some people with access to the 'Green Room' need to rearrange these words into a well-known phrase or saying "Life A Get"

- Jim, London, 03/02/2009 12:35
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what a sad country England has become

- Linda, italy, 03/02/2009 12:27
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Thought crime is reported by informers. You have to watch what you say even in front of your friends these days, in case they have been co-opted by the Thought Crime Moderators and turned into informants. Only "correct" thoughts are permitted.

- Neil, london uk,, 03/02/2009 12:10
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hmmmm private comments

- Bola Adewale, Southampton, UK, 03/02/2009 12:03
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This is where all those that have complained at 'PC gone mad' will regret having said it already as this REALLY is PC gone mad! I'm of a similar age to Carol Thatcher, and when I was young the golliwog (there, I've said it!) was a large part of the appeal and the promotion of Robertson's jams. My sister had a large collection ('cos she's a girl ... whoops, non-PC again!) with which she was extremely pleased, and no one ever looked on them as portaits of people of 'another ethnicity!' They were just golliwogs, and black was the colour of a golliwog as much as yellow was the colour of Winnie-the-pooh.
I must admit I find it hard to believe that Chiles was 'very shocked' ... get over yourself Adrian!

- Paul, London, 03/02/2009 11:57
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Are we turning into a Nazi state??? When will the madness stop???

- Annie, london, 03/02/2009 11:52
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This was a comment that anyone could have made about someone's hairstyle, it was not racist.

- M.Wilkinson, London UK, 03/02/2009 11:51
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Get over it Beeb - and focus on your many other failings instead!

- Marianne, SW France, 03/02/2009 11:37
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She clearly made this comment in private, and now some idiot has blown it up and made it public. The silly little PC ninnies in the green room who were reportedly so shocked have clearly led very sheltered lives. You really would think that the BBC would be more sensible than this, wouldn't you? Er...wouldn't you?

- Ken, Bexleyheath, 03/02/2009 10:46
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Unlike the Ross-Brand disgrace, this was apparently a private conversation and has not been broadcast. It appears that a private sin against political correctness counts for more than a series of obscene 'phone calls that is broadcast. If Carol Thatcher (for whom I hold no brief) has to apologize, Ross should be sacked. That's balance!

- Arthur Norton, Ipswich, England, 03/02/2009 10:20
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That's what friends are for Carol.

- Anon, UK, 03/02/2009 10:15
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