Brundle in trouble over comment

[calibrax]

Well, Martin Brundle said the word "pikey" when interviewing Bernie on his grid walk... when I heard him say it I thought "there will be complaints" and sure enough...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7445636.stm

Seven complaints! Surely there should be a rule that, say, at least 5% of the viewing audience should find it offensive and complain before this kind of investigation (witch hunt) is even considered?

Sometimes I think we are actually living in an Orwellian 1984...

[duke_toaster]

calibrax, they work on the assumption that for every 1 person that complained 100-2000 people were offended. This is crazy, I wouldn't have used that phrasiology myself but it's always the mad the bad and the sad that complain. By the French GP this will have all been forgotten, I doubt Martin will have to apologize and the controller of ITV self-flagellate during a safety car intervention in the same way the BBC had to after Madonna said something like "Are you f**king ready London?" during Live Earth.

[terence]

Personally I thought it amusing,after all,pikeys are used to be-ing called a lot worse!

[Born Racer]

If I complain about most of the utter crap that ITV normally broadcast, can it have a "formal investigation"?

[Adam43]

Oh well.
And the rest of the sensible world moves on...

I was more offended by everything and anything that James Allen said.

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by AdamAshmore

I was more offended by everything and anything that James Allen said.

I've defended Allen on here in the past (I enjoy a challenge) but the Brad Pitt remark, made at what was a rather emotional moment, sent me into a whirl of rage. Has the man got no self-awareness, sense of occasion or respect?

Back on topic -

Coming soon on ITV1 - Martin Meets The Travellers.

Disgraced former F1 presenter Martin Brundle travels to a patch of waste-land just outside Nantwich to spend a week living with a group of travellers, in an attempt to better understand their world.

In episode one, Brundle learns how to tarmac a driveway, and gets challenged to a bare-knuckle fight in a disused barn.

[Born Racer]

I nearly spat my lunch out then.

[CDK 7]

Back on topic -

Coming soon on ITV1 - Martin Meets The Travellers.

Disgraced former F1 presenter Martin Brundle travels to a patch of waste-land just outside Nantwich to spend a week living with a group of travellers, in an attempt to better understand their world.

In episode one, Brundle learns how to tarmac a driveway, and gets challenged to a bare-knuckle fight in a disused barn.[/quote] look forward to watching that

[Ralf's Girl]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

Has the man got no self-awareness, sense of occasion or respect?

Er...no.

[JimW]

That's probably about the politest term used by anyone outside the relevant community.

JIm

[ensign14]

Brundle could do a historical piece on travellers from the past before each race.

"Here we see a Pi-Craft 400 from 1612, two horsepower...a bit slow getting away..."

"A Bedford Special...you can see in the back a hook to tie the dog to with a bit of rotten rope..."

[tristancliffe]

Daft isn't it. I think Brundle's spot on with his views. It was VERY pikey to be repairing a race track with concrete and resin minute before a race - basically bodging it.

And Kubica is hardly a looker, regardless of the appearance of the comment passer.

I firmly believe some people watch TV solely to find material to complain about. These people are a waste of space, and should be shot to offset the carbon footprint of F1 - win-win situation.

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by tristancliffe

And Kubica is hardly a looker, regardless of the appearance of the comment passer.

Well, no, but there's a time and a place for jokey comments about someone's appearance, and it isn't straight after an emotional podium celebration.

And I wasn't referring to James Allen's appearance when I mentioned his lack of self-awareness. I meant that he doesn't seem to realise when he is being inappropriate.

[Ralf's Girl]

Originally Posted by tristancliffe

And Kubica is hardly a looker, regardless of the appearance of the comment passer.

So what? He's not paid to look pretty, he's paid to race cars. Brundle's comment was quite an amusing way of summing up the pre-race situation and obviously not intended to be offensive; Allen's remark about Kubica was totally inappropriate and unnecessary, and if he was trying to be funny he failed miserably.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by tristancliffe

I firmly believe some people watch TV solely to find material to complain about. These people are a waste of space, and should be shot to offset the carbon footprint of F1 - win-win situation.

They'd have to shoot quite a few to offset F1s carbon footprint.

And anyway,I'd rather listen to whatever Martin Brundle has to say,even if it isn't about F1,rather than listen to some of the verbal compost that spouts forth from Allen's pie hole.

Soon on ITV's French GP pre-race show; Martin Brundle test drives Ford Transit pick-up

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by tristancliffe

And Kubica is hardly a looker, regardless of the appearance of the comment passer.

The point is, Allen's comment added nothing to the commentary. Merely devalued it.

There is incisive, there is informative, there is witty and there is Allen.

[f1manoz]

And this just proves how PC and soft society is becoming. Whinge, moan, whinge....

[Sodemo]

What did Allen say?

[tonful]

I thought thats what road menders were called. Pikeys.

Perhaps he should have called them 'tax credit subsidised, field dwelling tarmac technicians'.

[Born Racer]

He said something like "He's hardly Brad Pitt, but it doesn't matter when he's as good as he is", or words to that effect.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

He said something like "He's hardly Brad Pitt, but it doesn't matter when he's as good as he is", or words to that effect.

Depends how you interpret it I guess...maybe he meant Brad Pitt was just a rubbish driver...or that's he not shacked up with an insane but also insanely hot actress?

Anyway - look at this



Back to the topic! - and I believe the cliché goes - IT'S PC GONE MAD

Intent and deliberate offence are far seperate things. We all know Martin Brundle meant only as a joke with no insult behind it.

I hope and expect it will get looked into a dropped just like the last joke of this nature
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/n...re/7307828.stm

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

I've defended Allen on here in the past (I enjoy a challenge) but the Brad Pitt remark, made at what was a rather emotional moment, sent me into a whirl of rage. Has the man got no self-awareness, sense of occasion or respect?

I can't possible know what you mean by self-awareness.

Potato.

Back on topic: I feel that the guys who have complained have missed the topic.

[Born Racer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/n...re/7307828.stm

There's something about the term 'racism row' that's irritating. A bit like 'political correctness gone mad'. It is mad though, or at least OTT.

[courageous]

What was the reaction when the spanish fans blacked up in 'honour' of Hamilton?

Or is that different because we like Brundle & Alonso was the enemy?

Maybe it is only because the law says you musn't be nasty to black people?

Maybe romany gypsies are less deserving of equality than other minorities...

btw - better explain that despite as my profile says, my being from Chatham does not mean I am romany myself (Irish/Russian).

[Adam43]

I was actually thinking how the Alonso fans example and the Brundle example was the same and how I was a complete hypocrit for thinking that Martin's comments weren't serious. I now realise that I hate Alonso with every single bone in my body and am totally biased. Please dismiss my previous remarks (I see you already have), except the one about the potato.