Kilroy has Quit his job as chat show hoost at the BBC
Saladin | 16.01.2004 18:51 | Anti-racism
Robert Kilroy-Silk has quit his role as a BBC talk show host in the wake of the row over a newspaper article in which he criticised Arabs. The show, which the ex-MP had presented for 17 years, was suspended after the Sunday Express piece was published. Police are investigating Mr Kilroy-Silk's article after a CRE complaint
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3404715.stm
Kilroy quitting as BBC presenter
Police are investigating Mr Kilroy-Silk's article after a CRE complaint
Robert Kilroy-Silk has quit his role as a BBC talk show host in the wake of the row over a newspaper article in which he criticised Arabs.
The show, which the ex-MP had presented for 17 years, was suspended after the Sunday Express piece was published.
The article, which described Arabs as "suicide bombers, limb amputators, women repressors", sparked a debate about freedom of speech.
In a statement, Mr Kilroy-Silk said the time was right for him to leave.
I believe my decision is the right way to resolve the situation
Robert Kilroy-Silk
"I will continue to lead the Kilroy Television Company Ltd and in addition to our existing commitments to the BBC, we will be bringing new ideas and programmes to the BBC and other broadcasters," he said.
"I have been overwhelmed by the support from the general public, and I continue to believe that it is my right to express my views, however uncomfortable they may be.
"However, I recognise the difficulties this has caused the BBC, and I believe my decision is the right way to resolve the situation," he added.
Critics had accused the BBC of gagging Mr Kilroy-Silk by suspending his BBC One show, but Director of BBC Television Jana Bennett insisted the corporation's decision had not been about freedom of speech.
She said: "Presenters of this kind of programme have a responsibility to uphold the BBC's impartiality.
"This does not mean that people who express highly controversial views are not welcome on the BBC but they cannot be presenters of a news, current affairs or topical discussion programme."
She said the BBC was working on a new version of the topical discussion programme, which will continue to be produced by the team at the Kilroy Television Company Ltd.
The corporation hopes it will be back on BBC One in the next few weeks with guest presenters hosting the show, Ms Bennett added.
Kilroy quitting as BBC presenter
Police are investigating Mr Kilroy-Silk's article after a CRE complaint
Robert Kilroy-Silk has quit his role as a BBC talk show host in the wake of the row over a newspaper article in which he criticised Arabs.
The show, which the ex-MP had presented for 17 years, was suspended after the Sunday Express piece was published.
The article, which described Arabs as "suicide bombers, limb amputators, women repressors", sparked a debate about freedom of speech.
In a statement, Mr Kilroy-Silk said the time was right for him to leave.
I believe my decision is the right way to resolve the situation
Robert Kilroy-Silk
"I will continue to lead the Kilroy Television Company Ltd and in addition to our existing commitments to the BBC, we will be bringing new ideas and programmes to the BBC and other broadcasters," he said.
"I have been overwhelmed by the support from the general public, and I continue to believe that it is my right to express my views, however uncomfortable they may be.
"However, I recognise the difficulties this has caused the BBC, and I believe my decision is the right way to resolve the situation," he added.
Critics had accused the BBC of gagging Mr Kilroy-Silk by suspending his BBC One show, but Director of BBC Television Jana Bennett insisted the corporation's decision had not been about freedom of speech.
She said: "Presenters of this kind of programme have a responsibility to uphold the BBC's impartiality.
"This does not mean that people who express highly controversial views are not welcome on the BBC but they cannot be presenters of a news, current affairs or topical discussion programme."
She said the BBC was working on a new version of the topical discussion programme, which will continue to be produced by the team at the Kilroy Television Company Ltd.
The corporation hopes it will be back on BBC One in the next few weeks with guest presenters hosting the show, Ms Bennett added.
Saladin
Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
Daily Express still backs him
16.01.2004 18:59
These views are just the tip of the iceberg for the shit thaty is coming out of Porno Desmond's Express and Kilroy's particulalrly long and hateful career.
The Express target readership appears to be the lower middle class /working class aspirant bigot.
Kilroy isn't here...good
Jubilation!! Kilroy not there any more. Excellent
16.01.2004 19:01
He deserves everything he gets.
I don't pay taxes to support scumbag racists like Kilroy at the BBC.
Now it is safe to quit my job, become unemployed and start watching daytime TV again.
employed tax payer
Kilroy & the zionist racists can burn in hell
17.01.2004 00:55
Headline of the Day # 2 (bad news) ... Hamas leadership will be murdered over next few weeks, promise "israeli" (anti-Jewish) zionists in "targetted" killings with illegal weapons that as usual will kill innocent bystanders including children. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1089989,00.html - "Israel admits it lied over missile raid on camp"
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EXTRACT FROM THE ABOVE SOURCE:
"The Israeli military has admitted that it lied about a rocket attack on a Gaza refugee camp, which according to the army led to no casualties, but which the Palestinians have claimed killed 14 civilians.
A leftwing member of the Israeli parliament, Yossi Sarid, forced the confession from the air force chief after he threatened to release evidence that the military had used a weapon more destructive and indiscriminate than it had publicly claimed.
A month ago, the air force launched an assassination strike against a Hamas activist who was driving through Nuseirat refugee camp. The Palestinians claimed that the attack caused a large number of civilian casualties, but the air force commander, Major General Dan Halutz, produced video footage of the car being hit by two missiles that showed no one standing near the wrecked vehicle as the rockets struck.
The military said that Hellfire missiles were used, producing a concentrated explosion over a small area. Gen Halutz likened the effect of the missiles to "two grenades". The video footage was widely shown on Israeli television.
But the army now admits that it lied in briefings to the Israeli and foreign press, because the second rocket was not a Hellfire missile.
The military refuses to identify the weapon used, on the grounds of "operational security". But the speculation is that it was an American-made Flechette, which is illegal under international law because it fires thousands of tiny darts over hundreds of metres, causing horrific injuries. Israel has used similar weapons in Gaza in the past."
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End the zionist occupation if you want peace or die like the dogs you are, defending stolen Palestinian land. If you dare to report what the godless zionists who have abandoned Judaism and embraced Nazism are doing to the Palestinians on their own land you will be murdered too, like Tom Hurndall, James Miller and Rachel Corrie (and the countless innocent Palestinians slaughtered by the occupiers).
Angry Manc
e-mail: angry_manc@hotmail.com
Sign O' The Times
17.01.2004 03:36
Why should Paulin not have been banned first? Because hatred in a "highbrow" form is more valid than a populist one? No. The real reason is that nobody watches, or gives a damn about Newsnight Review & Paulin is not in the mainstream. But the BBC is very wary of damaging its reputation in broader society. The above posts show this. They dont clamour for Paulin (probably agree with him), just the celebrity figure. It shows what slaves to the press agenda they actually are.
Kilroy-Silk was unlucky, in the sense that he is one amongst many "controversial" columnists who got pulled up on his simple-minded stirring. This is because he is more high profile due to his TV show. Anyone who reads the Sun, Mirror, Express, Mail, and to a lesser extent Guardian & Telegraph read tons of such shit, in one form or another, every day. The opinions HERE that generate most responses tend to be the strident, opinionated ones. Its what print journalism is about. Thats what sells news. BUT ITS "THE PEOPLE" WHO BUY IT & WANT TO BE OUTRAGED.
I think the BBC is hypocritical, but clearly a massive corporation taking a business decision. Kilroy has been publicly disgraced already. That is enough. Dont EVER be fooled into jumping on the censorship bandwagon.
Bananaman
Kilroy and Paulin
17.01.2004 10:09
Not that I agree with Paulin saying that settlers should be shot.
Mark
New Beeb show?
17.01.2004 16:02
I await the new Beeb show : 'What the Arabs did for us'.
Presented by Salman Rushdie ???
Pity the late Edward Said couldn't.
As for freedom of speech, Kilroy and the rest,were 'economical with the truth' as usual
forgetting just who it was set up and propped up the very regimes he was accusing.
Yes,there are aspects of islam that are appalling,but then so has christianity.
(American evangelists for instance and the historical crusades and inquisitions)
Anyway, y'all know this stuff.
GL