The BBC faced mass backlash following repeated use of the word ‘c**t’ in references to David and Victoria Beckham on Friday night’s episode of Have I Got News For You.
Anchor Katherine Ryan and panellist Maise Adam both used the profanity in a section discussing Sir David’s investiture by King Charles last week which prompted viewers to lambast the Corporation.
The long-running show’s host Ms Ryan began by mentioning the former England captain’s disappointment at not being knighted back in 2013, referencing reports in which he allegedly emailed his PR guru saying those who decided on who received Honours were ‘a bunch of c**ts… I expected nothing less.’
Comedian Ms Adam, 31, then also continued the expletive ridden section of the pre-recorded show’s script saying that as Sir David was finally awarded his knighthood last week.
She said: ‘It would have been nice, and maybe poetic if Charles had got his own back knighting him and going ,”Arise you c**t”‘
Then in a joke that led to complaints about BBC standards being posted on social media, Ms Ryan – who claims to be a feminist – added: ‘I don’t know if we are allowed to broadcast the “C” word, but you did reference Victoria Beckham earlier …and we’ll allow that.’
The BBC faced mass backlash following repeated use of the word ‘c**t’ in references to David and Victoria Beckham on Friday night’s episode of Have I Got News For You
Anchor Katherine Ryan and panellist Maise Adam both used the profanity in a section discussing Sir David’s investiture by King Charles last week
With some in the audience sounding shocked by the tone of 42-year-old Ms Ryan’s comment, the host added: ‘I like her really … I didn’t expect that reaction.’
But viewers reacted angrily to the repeated use of the C word on the show, and others objected to it being used as a slur on Lady Beckham, 51.
One wrote: ‘Unacceptable broadcasting of the “C” word. This is a recorded programme, so who at the BBC felt it was ok not to cut or bleep it out? Really disappointing.’
Another called for Ms Ryan to be axed, saying: ‘The same BBC that allows the C word to be broadcast during #hignfy, once in connection with Victoria Beckham. Katherine Ryan should be suspended’.Â
Meanwhile another said: ‘Something very odd and jarring about hearing the c word (c**t) on Have I Got News for You.’
Another poster on X fumed: ‘Heads should roll for allowing the C word to be broadcast at least twice during #hignfy.’
Others asked why it was acceptable for presenters on the show to repeatedly air the ‘C word’ while a BBC News Channel presenter Martine Croxall was last week reprimanded over claims her ‘facial expression’ showed a personal view as she referenced ‘pregnant people’ before changing the script herself to ‘pregnant women’.
The latest edition of Have I Got News for You also saw American comic Ms Ryan reveal to presenter Ian Hislop that she had only given birth two and a half weeks ago.Â
The long-running show’s host Ms Ryan began by mentioning the former England captain’s disappointment at not being knighted back in 2013
Comedian Ms Adam, 31, then also continued the expletive ridden section of the pre-recorded show’s script saying that as Sir David was finally awarded his knighthood last week
Ms Ryan has three other children – son Fred, three, and daughter Fenna, two, with husband Bobby Koostra, and is mum to 15-year-old Violet from a previous relationship.Â
Speaking on Davina McCall’s Begin Again podcast, which was recorded while still heavily pregnant, Ms Ryan said she’d been branded ‘privileged’ after offering advice to other new mums, especially when it comes to potty training.Â
After previously revealing her son Fred was out of nappies by eight-months, she said: ‘I say that you should start potty training babies from almost birth. And when I say potty training, I think it gets lost in translation.’Â
‘People go: “What do you mean?” And they get mad right away because they feel like: “Well, because I’ve got a three-year-old in a nappie, you’re saying that’s my fault and I’m negligent and I don’t love my child” I just think there’s a miscommunication.’Â
The mum-of-four went on to explain that she believed ‘well-meaning, very loving parents’ didn’t realise they were in fact training their newborns to use a nappy.
‘If you take the nappie off at regular intervals and you put them, you hold them on a potty, you’re training them to go in the potty.’Â
But Ms Ryan said she understood this could not work for all families, with many new mums having to go straight back to work and babies put in day care.  Â
‘The reaction that I get is people going: “Well, you’re privileged and you have chefs and nannies” Well, I don’t’ before quipping: ‘I mean, I do.’
‘I have a nanny and I have a cleaner that comes twice a week, but there’s no chef. Oh, that’s Bobby. Yeah. Okay. So, there I do have all that.Â
‘But I potty trained [eldest daughter] Violet as a very financially insecure single mom.’
