Lisa Nandy said she shared the ‘serious concerns raised by so many people’ after a racial slur was aired in the programme.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has welcomed the launch of a BBC investigation after it broadcast a racial slur during its coverage of the Baftas.
Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson could be heard shouting as Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for special visual effects during the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.
The corporation’s executive complaints unit (ECU) announced a “fast-tracked investigation” on Wednesday, saying it was a “serious mistake”.
Later on Wednesday, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she shared the “serious concerns raised by so many people” following the broadcast and had spoken to outgoing BBC director-general Tim Davie about the matter.
She added: “I welcome the launch of a full investigation by the BBC. Broadcasting a racial slur is completely unacceptable and harmful.
“The BBC must ensure that this never happens again.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC has been reviewing what happened at Bafta on Sunday evening.
“This was a serious mistake and the director-general has instructed the executive complaints unit (ECU) to complete a fast-tracked investigation and provide a full response to complainants.”
Additionally, on Wednesday the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS) wrote to Mr Davie “seeking an explanation” for how a racial slur ended up in the broadcast “in spite of a two-hour time delay”.
Referencing Glastonbury Festival coverage, chairwoman of the CMS Committee Dame Caroline Dinenage said the “latest incident raises questions about the extent to which lessons have been learned and about the controls and systems you have in place to prevent such incidents”.
