Basil Brush in 'racist' gag row

Mon Mar 17 10:58AM by TV Editor

Basil Brush

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Basil Brush is being investigated after a complaint was made about an alleged racist joke in the puppet's BBC series.

A complaint was received by the police following a recent screening of an old episode that features the fox telling jokes about gypsies, reports Metro.

The episode, which was originally shown six years ago, features a sketch where a gypsy woman tries to sell Basil some wooden pegs.

A police spokesperson said: "We can confirm we have received a complaint about a TV show featuring Basil Brush from a member of the public in February. The complaint was logged as an incident of a racist nature."

Joseph Jones, a spokesperson for the Romany, Gipsy and Irish Traveller Network, said: "Racist abuse of black people is quite rightly no longer deemed acceptable, but when a comedian makes a joke on TV about pikeys or gypos, there's no comeback."

Did you see the offending episode? Do you think Basil should be banished from our screens?

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User comments

  • (1911)

    dont ban Basil coz i love his show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by: sarahj34 on Tue Mar 18 10:30AM | Report abuse
  • (1912)

    Poor Basil.. D':

    Posted by: magee.lucy1 on Tue Mar 18 10:32AM | Report abuse
  • (1913)

    whats the point it was shown 6 years ago why bring it up now. also its a waste of police time they should find better things to do.

    Posted by: greentribe on Tue Mar 18 10:38AM | Report abuse
  • (1914)

    This is madness if everybody was complaining about racisim then you would have no resources for any other crimes. I went for a job interview and had all the qualifications needed but was English and someone else got the job because they were from that part of the country, but they had none of the qualifications. Its part of life get used to it. It was six years ago, things were not as mad as they are now. What is the UK coming to.

    Posted by: scarah73 on Tue Mar 18 10:45AM | Report abuse
  • (1915)

    some people are over sensitive and should just laugh it off

    Posted by: alfredsimpkin on Tue Mar 18 11:15AM | Report abuse
  • (1916)

    what is the point some people have no lives

    Posted by: jem.s on Tue Mar 18 11:19AM | Report abuse
  • (1917)

    Who will prosecute the police and complainant? Fox hunting is illegal

    Posted by: robert.stewart on Tue Mar 18 11:22AM | Report abuse
  • (1918)

    for goodness sake, whatever anyone says these days there is always someone who will pull the racism card. are people so insecure with themselves that they have to moan even about a puppet's comments. did they complain when it was aired the first time around?

    Posted by: weezle1970 on Tue Mar 18 11:23AM | Report abuse
  • (1919)

    What a load of nonsence. Some people lead very sad and empty lives if they have time to even think about Basil never mind sitting watching 6 year old episodes. Wise up.

    Posted by: l.wright448 on Tue Mar 18 11:47AM | Report abuse
  • (1920)

    k

    Posted by: arfer on Tue Mar 18 12:13PM | Report abuse