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White Middle Class Radio Presenter Sacked So There Can Be More Diversity

White Middle Class Radio Presenter Sacked So There Can Be More Diversity

What is the world coming to?

Hamish Kilburn

Hamish Kilburn

The BBC has been in the epicentre of another diversity row after one of its top radio presenters was sacked for being 'white and male'.

Having two Baftas, eight Sony awards and two British Comedy awards, comedian Jon Holmes, 47, was recently axed from The Now Show - which airs on BBC Radio 4.

Holmes found out about his sacking through a phone call, when bosses told him that it was recasting the show with more women and diversity.

Having been a part of the show now for 18 years, Holmes was unsurprisingly shocked by the reason behind his firing.

Credit: PA

Since his sacking, Holmes has said that he has heard from a number of other stars who were also rejected by broadcasting bosses because of 'positive discrimination'. Allegedly, he told how one female presenter was given a job only to be told later: "We can't have you, because you are white and middle class."

In an article for The Mail On Sunday, Holmes accepted the need for diversity but asked: "Should I, as a white man (through no fault of my own), be fired from my job because I am a white man?"

Making light out of the situation, Holmes tweeted the news by referring back to Jeremy Clarkson's infamous departure on BBC's Top Gear.

Holmes has been a writer and performer on The Now Show since it was first broadcast in 1997. The programme, with a weekly audience of two million, is presented by Outnumbered's Hugh Dennis with his comedy partner Steve Punt.

His sacking follows the BBC's April announcement of new diversity targets to ensure that women will make up half of its staff by 2020, including on screen, on air and in leadership roles.

A BBC spokesman credited Mr Holmes for his 'excellent and memorable' contributions, adding: "Our comedy shows are constantly evolving and it is time to create opportunities for new regulars as the show returns this autumn."

What ever happened to the best candidate for the role getting the job?

Featured image credit: PA

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Topics: BBC