Nick Robinson has apologised after Harry Enfield said ‘c**n’ live on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme while defending his own use of blackface.
The comedian angered some Today listeners after using the word ‘c**n’ during a debate about the use of blackface in comedy with comedian Ava Vidal, as a wave of anti-racism protests sweep the UK.
Both Mr Enfield and Paul Whitehouse have faced criticism over scenes from their sketch series Harry and Paul in which Mr Enfield appears dressed as Nelson Mandela selling drugs and promoting shoplifting.
The BBC host wrote on Twitter: ‘The discussion on @bbcrdtoday about comedy and the portrayal of black people between Harry Enfield & Ava Vidal has provoked a lot of comment. I’m really sorry a racial slur was used on air. I pointed out that it was offensive and asked Harry not to repeat it.
BBC radio host Nick Robinson (right) has apologised after Harry Enfield (left, impersonating Nelson Mandela in sketch from 2007) said ‘c**n’ live on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme
‘As I have said in the past – in a totally different context – ‘Normal service from the BBC means you will hear people you disagree with say things you don’t like’ but you should not hear racially offensive language & I’m sorry you did.’
It comes after Little Britain was removed from Netflix, BBC iPlayer and BritBox amid concerns that the use of blackface characters on the series is no longer acceptable.
Mr Enfield sparked outrage by mentioning dancer GH Elliott’s controversial stage name live on air during an interview with the BBC radio presenter.
When asked by host Mr Robinson about the connotations the use of blackface gives, Mr Enfield said on Radio 4: ‘Obviously Al Johnson or GH Elliot, who played the Chocolate Coloured C**n in the 1930s – they perpetuated the myth of the happy negro who was just very happy to sing under the crack of the whip, the American whip or the British imperial bayonet and obviously that’s deeply offensive and always will be.’
Mr Robinson replied: ‘Just to be clear, Harry, because there will be people offended by that term you just used. You’re using it in inverted commas. Let’s not repeat it, but it’s a term that was used at the time.’
Enfield responded: ‘Well, that was his name on stage. But I’ve played Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, David Cameron – four prime ministers.
Mr Robinson’s apology on Twitter today following the debate on BBC Radio 4 this morning
Mr Enfield, pictured in 2015, defended his own use of blackface, saying that he thinks there ‘should still be a conversation about it’ during the BBC Radio 4 interview
‘Say Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, I would find it difficult that I would not be allowed to play him because of the colour of his skin.’
Regarding the depiction of Mandela in Ruddy Hell! It’s Harry and Paul broadcast in 2007, Enfield added: ‘I thought, who is my hero? Nelson Mandela, who I had the pleasure of meeting once, and what’s the stereotype of black people?
‘At the time, there was a lot of things in the paper about drugs, so I made him a drug dealer, or a peddler of alcopops to children and things like that, which I thought was so wrong it was alright. I wouldn’t do it now, but I don’t think I regret it.
‘I definitely think there should still be a conversation about it.’
Mr Enfield was condemned by listeners on social media for his comments on the programme.
GH Elliott, above, performed on stage in the early 1900s under the controversial stage name
Mr Enfield was condemned by listeners on social media for his comments on the programme
One Twitter user said they’d ‘like to formally complain about Harry Enfield’s language’
One Twitter user wrote: ‘Listening to Harry Enfield saying ‘c**n’ on @BBCr4today (‘but that’s what he was called!’) is not really how I wanted to start the day.’
Another said: ‘Not only defended blacking up by way of it being just ‘commentary’ but then just casually threw in the word ‘c**n’. Don’t know if he was always like that but certainly in the last few years, Harry Enfield has become a smug little w*****!’
A third tweet read: ‘Good god Harry Enfield on Radio 4. Congrats Ava Vidal for keeping your cool.
‘#radio4 the segment would have been a whole lot more interesting hearing what @thetwerkinggirl had to say in full and leaving out some idiot saying the word c**n (?!) Hadn’t even had my coffee yet.’
Vidal said on the show: ‘I’m sure you can take the mickey out of the prime minister without blacking up, if there was a black prime minister.
Little Britain has been removed from Netflix, BBC iPlayer and BritBox amid concerns that the use of blackface characters on the series is no longer acceptable
‘If you’re going to do comedy, why wouldn’t you subvert the stereotype, why wouldn’t you challenge it, why would you reinforce it?
‘You have to look at the origins of blackface. It was distorting black people’s features, it was done for the entertainment of white people and it was done promoting negative stereotypes, and it normalises dehumanisation.’
She also tweeted following the conclusion of the programme: ‘Tim Nice But Dim.’ Not a character. Who tf knew?! “C**n” y’know. LOL. F*** me. “C**n.” Before 9 in the morning. I haven’t even eaten yet. I can’t stop laughing. WTAF? I’m in shock.’
Ava Vidal told Metro: ‘It proves how deeply ingrained these attitudes are that he could utter that word without so much as a by your leave.
‘This is why Black & POC have to lead the conversation on racism because many White people don’t even notice it.
‘I would have liked more time cause I had more points to make and I feel I wasn’t given the chance to do so.’
TV presenters Ant and Dec apologised on Wednesday for using blackface during a segment on Saturday Night Takeaway.
Last week, comedian Leigh Francis issued a tearful apology for portraying black celebrities on sketch show Bo’ Selecta.
Netflix has also pulled The Mighty Boosh and League Of Gentleman from the service over their use of blackface.