Catherine Tate accused of racism

Catherine Tate has been accused of racism towards the Northern Irish, due to a sketch broadcast in her Christmas Special.

In the sketch, Tate showed a family from Northern Ireland swapping Christmas presents. The grandmother got a balaclava, the father a knuckleduster, the mother an apron with a balaclava-wearing terrorist with the words "Remember Everything, Forgive Nothing", and their gay son received a chocolate penis.

According to the Daily Star, one angry caller said: "She displayed a disgusting and childish interpretation of a difficult and sensitive subject. I respected Miss Tate as a talented and clever performer. I am quite happy to admit my mistake."

It is also believed that the BBC received complaints about the swearing Nan Taylor. In Tate's defence the BBC said: "Catherine's comedy is never meant to offend and is always based on satire and grotesque exaggeration." The comedienne also spoke to defend her use of swearing, saying: "Old Nan's extreme language is fundamental to what makes her funny."

The episode, which guest starred Kathy Burke as Nan's daughter, peaked with 6.4 million viewers. The controversial sketch can be seen below:

Catherine Tate has been accused of promoting narrow-minded stereotypes before. In her 'English Translator' sketch she mimicked a number of accents: