EXCLUSIVETrevor McDonald blasts Mrs Browns Boys N-word joke crude, offensive and insulting - but says Brendan OCarrolls show should not be cancelled
Sir Trevor McDonald has said the attempted joke at the centre of the Mrs Browns Boys racism controversy was crude, offensive and insulting.
Sir Trevor McDonald has said the attempted joke at the centre of the Mrs Browns Boys racism controversy was crude, offensive and insulting.
The TV presenter, who was ITNs first black reporter, called on the BBC to have harsh words with the shows star Brendan OCarroll over the remarks.
OCarroll, who writes and stars in the hit comedy series, allegedly implied the N-word during rehearsals for the shows Christmas specials.
During a reading of the script while in character as Agnes Brown, OCarroll is said to have said: I dont call a spade a spade, I call a spade a…
He then started to utter the N-word before he was interrupted by a co-star. The incident is said to have taken place in front of co-stars and production staff.
Sir Trevor McDonald (pictured last year) has said the attempted joke at the centre of the Mrs Browns Boys racism controversy was crude, offensive and insulting
Brendan OCarroll (in character as Agnes Brown) allegedly implied the N-word during rehearsals for the shows Christmas specials
Sir Trevors comments heap further pressure on the BBC, which has yet to acknowledge the severity of the offensive slur.
Cast and crew were reportedly stood down while the BBC investigated what had happened. The rehearsals then resumed in Glasgow at the broadcasters Pacific Quay Studios in Scotland.
According to a report in The Sun, a junior worker was so upset by the joke they subsequently quit.
Sir Trevor, 85, who was best known as the face of ITVs News at Ten, told the Mail: I find it in every way crude and offensive and insulting. It couldnt have been said without a desire to hurt and insult really. Its not even funny.
He said an insult was always on the receiving end.
When asked what action the BBC should take, he added: I would probably have very harsh words with the person who said that.
And said the society and the community in which we live regards that sort of stuff as unnecessarily crude and offensive.
But he said he would stop short of cancelling the production.
Earlier this week OCarroll, 69, said: At a read-through of the Mrs Browns Boys Christmas specials, there was a clumsy attempt at a joke, in the character of Agnes, where a racial term was implied. It backfired and caused offence which I deeply regret and for which I have apologised.
His representative added: We would also like to clarify that the N-word was absolutely not spoken, it was implied.
Agnes [Mrs Brown] began the word but was stopped from finishing it by her daughter Cathy, as she knew she would be.
But there was criticism last night from one senior TV industry insider who questioned what would have happened if someone low down the pecking order had made the same sort of remark.
They said: There is always the perception that theres one rule for "talent" – a word which Tim Davie [BBC director-general] recently banned, and one rule for the hoi polloi.
This criticism is particularly sensitive for the BBC, as earlier this week Mr Davie said he was banning the word talent as part of moves to stop people abusing their position.
The BBCs only statement on the issue said: Whilst we dont comment on individuals, the BBC is against all forms of racism, and we have robust processes in place should issues ever arise.
Sir Trevor, seen in 1999, was ITNs first black reporter
Mrs Browns Boys won the Comedy Award for his role in Mrs Browns Boys, at the National Television Awards this year
OCarroll, 69, had just recently landed a new sitcom at the BBC before Mrs Browns Boys was halted amid a probe
Those who witnessed the remark were allegedly left shocked by the slur. One newspaper reported that the issue was then raised with the BBC afterwards.
Mrs Browns Boys has been part of the BBCs Christmas schedules for more than a decade. OCarrolls character, known as mammy, is a foul-mouthed Irish mother.
A BBC source told the Mail that the corporation had made it clear to Brendan O’Carroll what the consequences of any future issues would be.
The source said: The BBC takes the matter extremely seriously and Brendan also takes the matter extremely seriously.
Brendan is under no illusion about this. We have made it clear what the consequences of any future issues would be.
