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‘Why not name and shame Tom English?’ ‘Has he posted a tribute to Shane Warne yet?’ ‘Maybe Tom English should be issuing an apology himself?’ No respite for English despite BBC apology

Photo of Joe McHugh Joe McHugh | 09:24 12/03/22
Image for ‘Why not name and shame Tom English?’ ‘Has he posted a tribute to Shane Warne yet?’ ‘Maybe Tom English should be issuing an apology himself?’ No respite for English despite BBC apology

Acknowledgement by the BBC that Tom English had not met their editorial standards raised as many questions as it did provide answers. 

Seven days after his crass comment following the sudden death of Shane Warne the state broadcaster was forced into apologising to Celtic over the social media content of one of their employees. 

Apart from the obvious issue of there being editorial standards at the BBC it seems strange that the culprit isn’t named. Having someone as limited as English as chief sports writer explains a lot about the sports content and standards of BBC Scotland.  

While the BBC have apologised there has been no apology from their chief sports writer or from BBC Scotland. This weekend English is enjoying a working break in Italy as the state broadcaster go overboard with their coverage of a meaningless game of egg-chasing. Chief Sports Reporter Chris McLaughlin in also on the trip. 

To claim that the Warne tweet was a lapse from English shows how out of touch senior management at the British Broadcasting Corporation really are. It wasn’t a lapse or one off, this one crossed a certain line but was hardly a shock or out of character.

With dozens of heavyweight issues surrounding Scottish sport English spends an unhealthy amount of time on Twitter. Perhaps if he took some fresh air, got out and about meeting people outside of the BBC bubble he might be able to contribute with some authority on the issues that he is paid for. Instead he trawls Twitter looking for offense to be outraged at, it is easily done. 

If BBC bosses in England want to gauge the reaction to English and their acknowledgment of failing to meet standards they should take a look at the quality of the replies to their tweet. 

Almost all are well thought out and expressed raising relevant points. Next time they are looking for a chief sports writer for Scotland they could cast their net a little further and harness some of the very obvious talent that is out there.  

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Joe McHugh

Online and independent- the only way to be. Enjoying instant news access and reaction, following the trends if not an influencer!

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0 comments

  • JTT says:
    March 12, 2022 at 9:44 am

    English isn’t the real problem. He is, after all, only his master’s voice. The BBC’s apology will only be meaningful if they change their anti-Celtic agenda. I won’t be holding my breath.

  • Seppington says:
    March 12, 2022 at 9:59 am

    The day there is no Britain and therefore no British Broadcasting Corporation is the day I will be satisfied. No amount of mealy-mouthed empty performative fake nonsense will change my opinion on this matter. End the union, end the beeb. Simple.

  • Kevin A Okine says:
    March 12, 2022 at 10:12 am

    I live in England but originally from Glasgow. It’s so embarrassing that in todays age this has been allowed to go on for so many years.

    At one time a RC working for the bbc was very rare. Now there are a few more but they know their place and keep their heads down.

    Go down Byres Rd after a bbc workday. You’ll find it predominantly seconds biased employee’s. This goes all the way through, believe me.

    In any other country Tom English would be disciplined and made to publicly apologise.

    Not In our wee country or the bbc in Scotland

    Editor: BBC Scotland no longer at Queen Margaret Drive but nothing else has changed. Reinforced.

  • John mcghee says:
    March 12, 2022 at 12:10 pm

    BBC MASONIC SCOTLAND ARE ALL SCUM RATS.

  • Magdalena’s Chestnut Gelding says:
    March 12, 2022 at 1:51 pm

    The problem is BBC Scotland, not “the Union”

    The BBC itself produces magnificent output across all spectrums from drama to education to minority radio stations.

    The problem is BBC Scotland – big clue there! Scotland!

    Think about it! You think they are biased just now whilst they have to adhere to the, lightest possible, standards.

    Can you imagine the output in this country if left on its own? There’s 3.5 million people in this bigoted sewer of a country who have it riven in their DNA to dislike Irish/Catholics – they might not openly admit it, but give them a vote on closing Catholic schools tomorrow and watch their predefined bias come to the fore.

    That’s an overwhelming majority, so who do you think all of the media outlets will go full tilt at to retain their preeminent position. In Scottish sports media?

    The executives at the national BBC ought to come up here and flush the Sevco supporters club at Pacific Quay.

    Where else in world would you openly contract people who cheated every taxpayer in the UK? Do they ask Fred Goodwin for his opinion on the Bank of England Interest Rate decisions or the FTSE?

    • SFATHENADIROFCHIFTINESS says:
      March 12, 2022 at 6:49 pm

      AAA#.
      As you say it’s in the DNA.
      Scotland is a nominally Protestant Country.
      Church attendance is as poor as the average Chappel.
      It pays lip service to equality and social justice.
      Anti Irish racism and Anti Catholic prejudice are acceptable as the defence is it only Sectarianism and it’s Football issue. With the ultimate cop out of ‘ both sides are as bad as each other’.
      Civic and National Authorities are powerless to change it as they can’t rely on the loyalty of the Police and Legal Fraternity as they are already sworn to defend a Foreign Government and Monarchy.

  • Scouse bhoy says:
    March 12, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    Scotlands media shame a

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