A Question Of Racism?

[Theblip]

Following the news that the presenter Sue Barker and team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell are being axed from A Question Of Sport, there is much speculation online that their replacements will be “people of colour”...though admittedly that is yet to be confirmed. If it does turn out to be the case, is that not racism against Caucasian people - firing them because they are white?

[andy-hughes]

I don't watch the programme, so I have no axe to grind at all.

If the BBC thinks it needs a re-fresh, then they may be right, as I say, I have no idea if the format, or the presenters, are looking past it.

Likewise, with no names in the frame for a change, it's a little early to be getting knickers in a robble about the possible ethnicity of the replacements.

The new people should be chosen on merit, and if it is abundantly clear that they are not up to the job, but chosen for their colour, that's the time to make a noise about it.

[tonyav]

in a robble

Blimey, robble. That's a word I haven't heard for donkeys, andy.
My mom would use that word ie hang your clothes up or they'll get all robbled up.

[Theland]

There's no free speech on here!

[Spicerack]

That's where Robbie Williams got his stage name.

[andy-hughes]

Theland - // There's no free speech on here! //

Your post proves that actually, there is.

[Theland]

Until I call out the PC?

[Theblip]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-8728789/Sue-Barker-stay-BBCs-face-Wimbledon-removed-host-Question-Sport.html

[andy-hughes]

Theland - no, until you contravene Site Rules, which I presume you did, I didn't see your post.

[Theblip]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8741387/Former-England-footballer-Alex-Scott-poised-replace-Sue-Barker-Question-Sport.html

[emmie]

i will be sorry to see the show go or at least with the current line up

[andy-hughes]

To address the OP, clearly there is no racism involved here.

First of all, the team are not being 'fired', their contracts will expire, and are not being renewed.

Second, the notion that this is because they are 'white' is nonsense - the BBC is changing its people, which it is entitled to do.

The notion of racism occurs nowhere except in the fevered imagination of Theblip.

[emmie]

sue barker, most definitely doesn't want to go, she said so in an article a day or so ago, being the best job she's ever had, her words.....

[waterboatman]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[Mozz71]

Oh dear Theland, was your racism showing again?I

As for Alex Scott, I welcome more of her on my TV for the obvious reason, but I don't think she has the skills or personality for the role.

I'm kind of leaning towards someone more like Mark Chapman or Eilidh Barbour. In fact, I'd be happy for the show to end and be replaced with a television version of 5 Live's fantastic Fighting Talk (although it may not work as well on TV as it does on Radio, much like ISIHAC or Just a Minute)

[allenlondon]

Am I alone in finding the phrase ‘person of colour’ twee, patronising, and inaccurate?

I’m (largely) pink, so do I qualify?

PS also an emphatic anti-racist!

[Theblip]

Oh my, the oracle that is Andy Hughes has spoken, and as ever only he knows the truth! Opinions from others like me are, in his judgment “from a fevered imagination”. Does that apply to the national press too, Andy Hughes, cos they say Sue and co were sacked? Here’s just one example: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2020/09/14/bbc-have-shot-foot-sacking-sue-barker-phil-tufnell-matt-dawson/

[Theblip]

Andy all-knowing Hughes, take a look at the 300-plus comments beneath this article in The Sun online: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/12689807/alex-scott-replace-sue-barker-question-of-sport/
Do you know better than all of them too?

[Theblip]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8728809/BBC-removed-dream-job-Sue-Barker-insists-never-voluntarily-left.html Yet more evidence Barker was axed, Andy Hughes