BUNGLING BBC bosses were tonight accused by MPs of failing to learn the lessons of past failures by broadcasting the N-word during the Baftas.
Outgoing director-general Tim Davie was given 10 working days to answer their questions as to how the racial slur went out on prime time Sunday night telly.
Tourettes activist John Davidson‘s involuntary comments came while actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were presenting an award on stage.
The BBC has since launched an investigation into why it was not edited out of the final programme that aired two hours later.
Dame Caroline Dineage, who chairs the Commons Culture Committee, yesterday wrote to Mr Davie “seeking an explanation as to how the slur came to be broadcast in spite of a two-hour time delay.”
She said: “We have previously raised concerns with you about circumstances in which the BBC has allowed deeply offensive language to be aired, notably the broadcasting of antisemitic language during the BBC’s coverage of last year’s Glastonbury festival.
“This latest incident raises questions about the extent to which lessons have been learned and about the controls and systems you have in place to prevent such incidents.”
Mr Davie tendered his resignation last year in part due to the Glastonbury scandal that saw the Corporation livestream anti-semitic lyrics from the rapper Bob Vylan.
While still in post while a successor is found, he has now been embroiled in a fresh row over the Baftas.
Ms Dineage has demanded to know why the mistake occurred, what systems are in place to prevent such gaffes, what lessons have been learned from Glastonbury, and any future steps.
The BBC apologised for failing to cut the slur from its coverage of the ceremony at Royal Festival Hall, despite there being a two-hour delay.
Mr Davie has told its Executive Complaints Unit to carry out a fast-tracked investigation into the “serious mistake” during Sunday’s Bafta coverage.
The director-general of the broadcaster will also “provide a full response to complainants”, a BBC spokesperson added.
Mr Davidson has since revealed he also called host Alan Cumming a “paedo” due to his tics.
He told Variety: “As always, I felt a wave of shame and embarrassment hit me all at once. You want the floor to swallow you up.
“I wanted to disappear. I wanted to hide – just get away from all the eyes.”
