Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Rachel Burden: BBC presenter apologises for saying 'f***' live on air when discussing Chris Grayling

Burden and her co-presenter Nicky Campbell were discussing former justice secretary Chris Grayling’s legacy when she made the slip

Clarisse Loughrey
Thursday 16 May 2019 04:13 EDT
Comments
BBC presenter Rachel Burden: apologises for swearing live on air when discussing Chris Grayling

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A BBC host has apologised after accidentally dropping an f-bomb while discussing Chris Grayling live on breakfast radio.

BBC Radio 5 Live’s Rachel Burden and her co-presenter Nicky Campbell were the discussing former justice secretary's legacy when she made the slip.

While speaking to home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw on Thursday’s show, Burden said: ”Chris Grayling seems to have been in charge of various departmental gaffes, f***-ups, mismanagement, controversies, and yet he’s still there in cabinet.”

The discussion had been focused on a decision for the National Probation Service to supervise all offenders in England and Wales, reversing a part-privatisation decision made by Grayling in 2014.

Those involved continued seemingly unaware, without drawing attention to the gaff.

Burden later apologised, after she’d been alerted to her mistake. ”By the way, I think a bad word may have slipped out, although that wasn’t the intention. It wasn’t what I’d thought I said,” she said.

“So, I apologise if anybody heard bad language earlier on. That wasn’t what was supposed to happen.”

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in