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Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington today called for a comedian to be banned by the BBC after he said she looked like a reflection in the back of a spoon.
The swimmer, 20, who won two gold medals in Beijing last year, was humiliated by "outrageous slurs" from Frankie Boyle.
Her agent said the BBC should remove the "oxygen of publicity" and ban him from its shows. The row was sparked by an episode of Mock The Week last year when Boyle said the swimmer resembled "someone looking at themselves in the back of a spoon" and followed up with a sexual innuendo.
The BBC Trust said his comments were offensive and unfair and 75 people complained. But it took no further action against Boyle, 37, who has since quit the BBC2 show.
Adlington has now written to the BBC Trust saying he was let off with a "slap on the wrist". Her manager Rob Woodhouse said: "The BBC must take responsibility for the people it employs to ensure they uphold the highest standards.
"To say what Frankie Boyle did about Rebecca, who was only 19 at the time, was disgusting. Attacking a young woman like this wasn't funny. It's not acceptable."
Speaking about the BBC Trust last week, Boyle said: "Who are these people? What authority do they have to judge comedy? It's a question of how boring people want TV to be."
Reader views (29)
I don't recall Les Dawson's wife or mother-in-law ever complaining. It's comedy, get over it or turn it off. They have yet to make a TV without an 'OFF' button.
- Paul, London
Frankie Boyle - never heard of him.
- Doug Watt, london e14
- Lisa, London
So I take it you wouldn't mind being publicly humiliated by the way you look Lisa. I wonder what the reaction would be if he went up to someones girlfriend in a pub and said that. Oh but he wouldn't because he is a coward who hides behind the faceless BBC.
- David, London
She was offended So what?
- Gary, London
its a joke - get over it.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
This objectionable Comedian is typical of the current genre of so called funny men And we all bring to mind others like him Not least "Wossy" and his ilk.They belive that ridiculing and sneering at people is good for a laugh. Well according to his apologists he is and that says much about their need to feel good about themselves. They the so called commedians suffer so badly from an inferiority complex that they need the crutch of insulting others to give them a lift . Its sad and indeed unacceptable that they are indulged by the BBC
- Peter French, farnham england
So what? It was a typical cheap shot, but funny. get over yourself love. I thought you were a down to earth girl, but obviously a couple of Olympic medals have gone to your head. And you have an agent now do you? what for, all those advertising opportunities and openings you can now do? remember, it was our tax that paid for your training and your trip.
- Kerry, Purley
Surely this is just another example of our glorious governments 'open door' immigration policy! Deport the shining wit offender back over the border so Auntie Beeb can get on with the recording of the new straight to Dave series "Mock-the-Jock"...
- Thegreenersideofhadrian, Isle of Dogs
If Rebecca Adlington had been a member of an ethnic minority grouping, what would the reaction have been? Probably the remark would have been denounced by the Director General of the BBC and massive smoothing operations put in place. Equable treatment for all? You are having a laugh!
- Roy G, Solihull, England
I absolutley agree with her manager. Its disgusting that a person could make a joke about another person, and on a program that is so obviously billing itself as a comedy show. Where do people like Boyle get off. I say ban anyone from saying anything about anyone else or anything. Free speach is the biggest blight that this government and us do-gooders have to face now-a-days and the sooner you stop behaving like you have some right to do/say as you please, and start behaving in the way that we PC'ers instruct you to, well, so much the better!
- Jack Strap, London
Oh come on love, it was a minor insult. You'd have a lot more respect if you just took this on the chin. Is it because she is a young woman that she gets so coddled? I saw Buzzcocks last night and Tinchy Stryder was roundly mocked for his height and didn't feel the need to complain or storm off. We should not be more precious because a woman was the target of what is nothing but a throwaway comment.
- Lisa, London
Regrettably many so called comedians seem to think that the way to be funny is to use lavatorial hunour and/or insult people. It is not funny. I agree with Nobby Clark
- Patrick, Dalston
Perhaps it would have been better to actually play along with the gag and ask to come onto the show (perhaps hitting Boyle with a giant spoon at some point!!).
From a publicity perspective her agent has done more damage by perpetuating this. The British like good sports in more ways than one.
- Hansel, London
The 'reflection on the back of a spoon' is a very funny observation, but not for the person so described.
I suppose anyone in the public eye has to be prepared to be the subject of some comedian's humour and must just grow a thicker skin.
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland
Ahh boo hoo, she cant take a joke. Get a life, asking for a comedian to be banned because they said a joke about you is very weak indeed.
- Porky Pies, New Addington, Croydon
What's the best thing to do when someone insults you? publicise the insult in every newspaper so the whole country can laugh? Well done - you've managed to make yourself look more stupid!
- Mr Opinion, London
Anybody who publicly humiliates another person for the looks they were born with -- and anybody who finds that funny -- are both below contempt. Boyle should be banned from the BBC, but of course the gutless BBC won't do anything about the idiot. Did it do anything about Jonathon Ross?!
- Phil Jones, London UK
Umm, is that why he left Mock The Week even before
the last episode of the last series?
- Tony, South Bronx
Just when you thought this politically correct nanny state could not get any more stupid .... here we go again... just like Jimmy Carr last week. It is was a joke ...that's what comedians do ... sometimes a little near the bone for some people... but get over it and get a life !!!
- Paul H, London
Boyle should be banned simply for being unfunny.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
If everyone they've mocked took the same offence, there'd be nothing left of the show. This is political correctness gone mad. No doubt the Beeb with comply with whatever complaint is brought - their little propaganda machine can't afford not to brown nose the government these days.
- Real, London
Frankie's hardly brad pitt himself, so he was only having a laugh...
I think he's the funniest comic on tv and mock the week will be not as good without him.
Come back Frankie....
- Mark, St Albans
Let's get it in perspective. Thatcher used the term "oxygen of publicity" to deny the Republication movement the same access to the media as that enjoyed by the Loyalists in the occupied territory. To compare a malicious personal commment to the attempt to deny unarmed individuals murdered by the State is just a bit misguided.
- Peace Maker, Battersea
I like Boyle. The joke was cruel but very funny. Sorry Ms Adlington
- Coys Switz, switzerland
Agreed. She and her agent are really sounding a bit up themselves "oxygen of publicity"? What is she Margaret Thatcher facing the IRA? She is a pretty woman with lovely blond hair relax woman and forget about it. Frank Boyle is not a looker is he ?
- Jason Stone, Stratford, Newham
Deep down inside the BBC ARE bullies and supporting this little dirtbag just goes to prove it.
- Steve, Brentford
Yes lets ban ALL comedy!
I appreciate it was a line at someone else's expense..... but he's not the first comedian to insult someone, and he won't be the last.
- Jc, London
All respect that I had for Adlington is fast going out of the window. She and her 'manager' are making her look ever more ridiculous for pursuing this issue over a joke that everyone had forgotten about.
- Paul, London
so what you where offended...nothing happens when your offended, just that YOU are a little offended, we dont need to make rules or ban things because someone got offended!
- Daveb, london
