The BBC has dropped former Carol Thatcher daughter of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher from “The One Show” . The BBC took the action after she apparently used the word “golliwog” to describe a tennis player. The comments were allegedly made during a conversation with fellow presenters after filming for the programme had ended. Carol has appeared on the show as a regular roving reporter for the last three years.
Other presenters reported her off-air remark to senior staff, leading to her sacking by the BBC. The identity of the tennis player has not been revealed but there are rumours that it might even be Andy Murray.
The critical issue here is not just the debate as to whether the remarks were racist (intentionally or not) but that the words of public figures are now seldom ever ‘private’. Carol Thatcher needs to understand that the social web means that they can be published by anyone, anywhere in an instant. The BBC should recognise this too and reveal the name of the tennis player. Then we will all be better placed to make a judgement.
PR and the Social Web 