Danny K
Wednesday 4th February 2009 10:24pm [Edited]
238 posts
There appears to be a misapprehension that Carol Thatcher has been sacked by the BBC. She hasn't. She still keeps her 'jobs' with the BBC.
She's been removed from one paticular show which she appears on occasionally. All her other contracts with the BBC remain in place. In fact, either today or tomorrow, (I forget which), she starts filming a BBC programme. The BBC are quite happy about that.
Jonathan Ross was suspended from ALL work with the BBC. Carol Thatcher has been removed from one programme only (no pun intended). If she continues to refuse to apologise fully, it won't affect the rest of her contract work with the BBC. Hardly what you'd call 'learning a lesson' is it?
So what's going on? I think Bandage's skit on the sketch thread 'Wascist' comes closer to the truth. Prince Phillip has made it his lifetime's work to get off scott free after making racist comments. Prince Harry has got off scott free too. Carol Thatcher? Well she talks with a plummy, RP accent doesn't she? And if not considered upper class is definitely not considered to be working class in roots either, so she escapes almost scott free (I wouldn't be surprised to see her back on The One Show in the long term; probably doing a piece on racism in the workplace).
Jade Goody on the other hand, has made comments no worse than the foregoing three - but she is most definitely working class, so that couldn't be allowed to pass unchallenged. Questions were raised in Parliament. Government discussions were held, and an international spat ensued. Wouldn't have happened to that degree if she were royalty or upper class. Give it till March and everyone will have to be reminded that Carol Thatcher once said something unsavoury in early February. I'm absolutely certain the 'incident' will be forgotten, and Carol Thatcher will appear on our screens as much as ever without enduring anything like the suspension Ross had to 'endure'.