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David Jason sorry for Pakistani radio joke
Amar Singh25 Mar 2009
David Jason has apologised for cracking a joke about Pakistanis on a live radio show.
Jason, 69, made the gaffe while appearing as a phone-in guest during the Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio.
During the Who's Calling Christian feature - in which celebrities call in for a chance to win £20,000 for charity - O'Connell asked Jason for a question for the next guest.
The Only Fools and Horses star replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant? Me hat, me coat."
There was a stunned silence before Jason hastily added a question about Ronnie Barker's early career.
The joke was edited out of the show's podcast on the station's website as race groups condemned it.
Mohammed Shafiq, of the Ramadhan Foundation, said: "As a well known and well-loved actor David Jason needs to be careful about what he says."
Jason's spokeswoman said today: "He is really sorry and distressed that the joke upset people."
Reader views (16)
Oh for god sake…. This nonsense again!! It is absolutely ridiculous, has the whole country gone mad! It makes me wonder sometimes where this country is going to end up its absurd. There’s more important issues to worry about than a joke, things seem to escalate out of control, when someone touches the subject of jokes it’s ridiculous to think you can’t even tell one these days. Its humour, we all have different levels of it; I as much as the next person enjoy a good old joke. Its part of our history and humour within the UK, next there be telling us it’s PC to scratch our own backsides. Come on now let’s get a grip of life and reality.
- Garry Taylor, Wilmslow, 28/03/2009 11:26
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I couldn't believe this story - what a load of cobblers. I fail to see how it is racist.. is it because it presupposes Pakistanis work as cloakroom attendants? Jeez, the PC brigade need to get a life.
- David H, London, 26/03/2009 21:06
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I really don't get it! Please explain!
- Mohammed Khan, luton, UK, 26/03/2009 16:30
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I think it is deeply offensive and derogatory to Pakistanis and this type of so called humor should have died with Bernard Manning and has no place in Briton today.
- Paul Richards, London, 26/03/2009 09:31
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It's no more a racist joke than the old chestnut about 'Ilene Dover'. It's a pun. (If David apologised, it should be for a sub-standard joke.)
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 26/03/2009 09:28
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It sounds like a typical joke from Del Boy, harmless and mildy funny without any offense intended. Lighten up. Why should he have to apologise for being Del Boy. FK, Cpn, DK.
- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark, 25/03/2009 21:50
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Doesn't the comic industry work on making fun out of others because of their differences. the world is to PC nowadays.
- Kuldeep Singh, coventry, 25/03/2009 18:17
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It's a very old joke. We used to be able to tell it. It's a joke! It's not offensive!
- Sa, London, 25/03/2009 18:16
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"Mohammed Shafiq, of the Ramadhan Foundation, said: "As a well known and well-loved actor David Jason needs to be careful about what he says."- Anyone else sick to the back teeth of these people? I know I am.
This joke, which is a bit average, is nothing more than a play on words. It is in no way racist.
I sincerely hope that the imminent departure of Soviet Labour will also be seen as the perfect opportunity to start expunging the cancer of political correctness from every aspect of British life.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 25/03/2009 17:46
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What is he apologizing for?
- Harry, London, UK, 25/03/2009 16:56
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I don't get it....
- Smb, London, UK, 25/03/2009 16:23
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so what
- Jules_London, london, 25/03/2009 16:21
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Is that offensive? really? or are we all a little over sensetive? i hear loads of silly name jokes about all nationalities.
- Brian, Wiltshire, 25/03/2009 16:17
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so what, Del Boy is an insitution of this country. he doesn't have to apologise for anything.
- Jonny, London, 25/03/2009 15:57
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oh god please get a life!!!! How can a simple joke that is as old as the hills 'upset people'?
- Gary, amersham, 25/03/2009 15:27
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It's a good clean joke, it's only words, where's the harm done and yes it made me laugh. This is all about freedom of speech.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 25/03/2009 15:11
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