BBC Boss Backs 'Risk Taking'

Taking risks in broadcasting is 'no laughing matter' - that's according to the top man at the BBC who insisted this week that he is taking criticism directed at one of its comedians by a watchdog body seriously.

The BBC Director-General said on Monday night that "creative risk taking" was alive at the corporation - despite recent criticism from the BBC Trust.

Mark Thompson said that the BBC was prepared to stand by its controversial decisions - such as inviting the BNP on Question Time - even though it has received recurring complaints from writers and comedians that a culture of political correctness has emerged.

The critics, who included Claudia Winkleman, Clare Balding, Clive Anderson and Rick Stein, were told that there was "no evidence" of the BBC "losing its nerve".

Mr Thompson highlighted comedy such as The Thick of It and Occupation, the Iraq war drama.

However, last month the BBC Trust rebuked Frankie Boyle, the comedian, for describing Rebecca Adlington, the double Olympic gold medalist, on Mock The Week as looking like "somebody who is looking at themselves in the back of a spoon" and later refused to apologise.

Mr Thompson said that he "wanted Mock The Week to be on the edge" and that he wanted "people to have the space to do their best work".

Responding to a specific question from Sir Michael Lyons, the Chairman of the BBC Trust, he said that it did not mark the "beginning of a BBC Taleban".

Britain's double Olympic gold medal winning swimmer,

Rebecca Adlington, had written to the BBC Trust to complain that its decision to rebuke Frankie Boyle after he "humiliated" her on one of its flagship comedy programmes, was not a strong enough punishment.

The swimmer is frustrated that the sanction amounted to little more than a "slap on the wrist" and wants the BBC to take stronger action against the comedian.

(BMcC/GK)