Photo: WENN/BBC
Prime Minister David Cameron has spoken out on the dismissal of a local BBC radio DJ who lost his job after playing a track featuring the n-word - slamming the decision as 'unfair'.
David Lowe, who formely presented a golden oldies show Singers and Swingers for BBC Radio Devon, played a 1932 recording of 'The Sun Has Got His Hat On' which featured the racist term. Lowe claims he offered to make an on-air apology or resign - and the BBC asked him to step down.
Now, speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain, PM David Cameron said he thought the Beeb's decision was 'unfair' and 'a bit odd'.
"I don't run the BBC but it does seem in this case that if you really didn't know what was on the record, it does seem slightly unfair," said Cameron. "I don't know all the facts of the case, but from reading the papers like everyone else, it looked a bit odd."
The decision came after a listener complained after hearing the slur in UK group Ambrose And His Orchestra's version of the track. In the second verse, the lyrics read: "He's been tanning [n-word] out in Timbuktu, now he's coming back to do the same to you." It's the last version of the song recorded to feature the offensive word.
"I offered to apologise or to fall on my sword," Lowe said of the incident. "Unfortunately the BBC decided on the latter option. I don't have any quarrels with any of my colleagues. It's the system of political correctness which has turned this into a rather badly handled affair.
"I think we're all too ready to bow to political correctness. One feels one is following a verbal tightrope, even in casual conversation. I made a silly mistake, my first error in more than 30 years of broadcasting. I am deeply embarrassed by it."
The BBC have now offered Lowe his job back, but the DJ said the incident has aggravated a stress-related condition he suffers from and he will not be returning to his post.
A spokesperson for the BBC said: "We have offered David Lowe the opportunity to continue presenting his Singers And Swingers show, and we would be happy to have him back on air. We accept that the conversation with David about the mistake could have been handled better, but if he chooses not to continue then we would like to thank him for his time presenting on the station and wish him well for the future."
