Carol Thatcher has insisted she does not regret referring to a blacktennis player as a “golliwog” – despite her sacking from a BBCtelevision show.
Ms Thatcher, 55, appearing on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show, defended her off-air use of the word. She said the current obsession with political correctness needed to be addressed with common sense. It was her first appearance on the BBC since she was sacked from The One Show in February.
Asked whether she regretted using the word “golliwog”, Ms Thatchersaid: “No, because I used it in a context which wasn’t actuallyappreciated at the time.”
She went on: “The pointabout the mail was today’s obsession about political correctness – andthat remains a topic that has to be addressed and some common senseinjected to it.”
Ms Thatcher added she has receivedmany letters of support: “My store of golliwog fridge magnets hasactually now gone up because people have sent them to me.”
Common courtesy
But she was criticised by fellow guest, former Labour leader Neil Kinnock.
He said: “The one thing that struck me when I heard you had used that word – and stuck by the word – is astonishment.
“Idid not think someone like you would consciously use the word. Notbecause of political correctness – but merely out of common courtesy.”
TheBBC has previously defended its decision to drop Baroness Thatcher’sdaughter from The One Show over the remark, saying she was given “ampleopportunity to apologise”.
More than 3,000 people complained about the decision to sack Ms Thatcher.
Duringthe ensuing controversy she was backed by Mayor of London Boris Johnsonand pop star Will Young – although Communities Secretary Hazel Blearssupported the BBC’s action.