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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
I think it is getting beyond a joke all this PC shan@#$%ns! Everyone pokes fun at whoever is different from themeselves. Everyone does it - its a big social circle of humour. It is only brought up by people who want to try and make money by suing some poor skapegoat. I think I might start getting offended when people use the words "white" "limey" "working-class" or anything like that.
Posted by: ms.chelezvous on Tue Mar 18 02:09PM | Report abusebasil should not be banned i mean he is a puppet for crying out loud
Posted by: liam1994 on Tue Mar 18 02:10PM | Report abuseBasil, 'The Racial Rug Rat" better watch out or some gypsy might put a spell on him and turn him into a Toad.. Maybe he can get a shot at the next Shrek Squel? If Basil "qualifries", I feel he should run in the next US presidential election! At least we would have someone with some kind of "straw between the ears" to provide the proper leadership! Make him do something about the American Banking system while he is at it!!!!!!
Posted by: acecondoruk on Tue Mar 18 02:15PM | Report abuseabout time the pot stop calling the kettle. these reports are very onesided and when the tables are turned nothing is done
Posted by: martin.lancashire on Tue Mar 18 02:15PM | Report abusestop this nonseanse even if he did he shouldn't be stoped
Posted by: davelon.hitch on Tue Mar 18 02:28PM | Report abusesomeone has got something against basil I know it
Posted by: davelon.hitch on Tue Mar 18 02:31PM | Report abuseBring back Alf Garnett and let him say what he thinks his own way
Posted by: wendyl88 on Tue Mar 18 02:41PM | Report abuseThe BBC would never show something slightly Racist, Now would they?
Posted by: wendyl88 on Tue Mar 18 02:44PM | Report abuseI think it is just a load of old tosh.It was an old episode (6 years ago).It was in the past so leave it there!!! People need to get a life and stop raking the past up. There are always jokes and bad mouthing going around about that particular subject so for gods sake just ignore it! Basil Brush SHOULD NOT be banished from our screens. Its a puppet so don't be so pathetic. What is this world coming to!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: beemerbabe962 on Tue Mar 18 02:58PM | Report abuseThe P.C brigade are out and about in force I see. Grow up people this is a kid's show we are talking about. It is getting to the point where we will stop talking to anyone for fear of saying the wrong thing, or upsetting someone from another country or colour etc. Get a life people
Posted by: nessieswb on Tue Mar 18 03:12PM | Report abuse