Should Carol Thatcher have been axed for private golliwog joke?

The BBC has dropped former British premier Margaret Thatcher's daughter from one of its programmes after she used the word "golliwog" to describe a tennis player.

Thatcher allegedly made the comment during a conversation with fellow presenters after Thursday's filming for The One Show, in which she has appeared as a regular roving reporter for the last three years.

Is the BBC right to drop Thatcher despite the comment being made in private?

How utterly ridiculous.

How is it possible to take anything that the BBC does seriously - surely there must be a million more impoirtant issues that deserve attention.

Anyway, I agree that Andrew Murray's hair makes him look like a golliwog. 

THE BBC HAS LOST ITS WAY

Carol Thatcher gets the sack for a private joke whilst Jonathan Ross keeps his job after a public joke. At the end of the day its all about money, Jonathan Ross earns more for the BBC.

it is right that she lost her job. and she was referring to a black tennis player when she said that their hairstyle resembles that of a golliwog. if you are so into your free speech go to any place in London where there are black people and call them that and see how far you'd get. it is a racist term no matter how  you look at it. it is time to realise that you need to be careful what you say about people even though you think it. any fool who thinks this is outrageous wants to be in an office where you are told you can never be English fully because your parents are from Africa. Wise up people and wise up quickly. realise that you are not the most superior people on the planet. this should be a good first lesson to get you started.

If it is a racist term, she did not use in a racist context in her private conversation inside a private green room in the BBC. 

Carol Thatcher in a private conversation referred to the golliwog that was the logo on Robinsons jams for years. She thought it was a light hearted joke but was reported by either Jo Brand who constructs her act around things that too would upset the PC brigade. I don't think it was Jo Brand who shopped her but far more likely to have been Adrian Childs who is living proof that anyone with a boring monotone accent and a face like the elephant man will get employment at the BBC. Hugh Grant was on last week and said it was like being interviewed by a nine year old child, child by name child by nature, well nine year old often tell tales on other people.  Christine oh Christine, dump him immediately, you are losing fans being linked to this yoyo.

And News of the World, do your job on the troublemaking snitch.

1. The question is misleading.It was not made in private; it was made in the workplace

2. It is an indication of her lack of intellectual ability and education imho. I'd sack her for incompetence and lack of brain power

3. She has refused to apologise

 The Brand is Robertsons not Robinsons

Yet another blow for free speech.

I thought broadcasting was about being able to say and do what you want, when you want to.. (within reason!)

 I do think the BBC are trying to make a point after the Ross/Brand fiasco, but it is taking things a little too far.

What will be next? News at 10 won't be able to properly reprt the news!!

HA,

long live freedom of speech

like i said, if you believe in freedom of speech so much, go to any place where black people are and try calling them a golliwog to see if they would be offended. You can say and do what you want but you have to consider the feelings of others. Otherwise you can lose your job.

I agree that you can loe your job ovr things like that, but I think it is very much the cse that the BBC are tking things a little too far by 'leaking' it...

Yes, she should have, anyone who doesn't realise this is a racist term obviously must still be living pre 1960s.Or has clearly never experienced racism in their life. The term is offensive! What's more shocking is not that she said it was that she didnt want to apologise!!

Private or not it shows her way of thinking. Made in a joke or talking about someone's hair, the term is still offensive. She obviously has very little emotional intellignce for the rest of the nation.

We should not be condoning racist terms, as a influential powerful broadcaster, the BBC need to help lead the way by showing others that this is unacceptable and I think getting rid of her is definitely a good step. If the BBC had not taken action then they would continue to be seen by some, as out of touch.