The BBC has defended the use of the word 'oddball' to describe a Down's Syndrome character in Line of Duty.
During the first episode of the brand new Line of Duty season, Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) spoke about Terry Boyle (Tommy Jessop) calling him the 'local oddball'.
The episode saw Terry Boyle get arrested on suspicion of of murdering journalist Gail Vella.
Speaking to Steve Arnott about the suspect, Ted Hastings said: "[Carl is] much more likely to be the gunman that the local oddball, that's for sure."
Fans of the show took to Twitter to share their disappointment in the remark.
@officialNaillo tweeted: "Solid return for #LineofDuty but surprised to hear the phrase ‘local oddball’ used when referring to a character with Down’s Syndrome - and on #WorldDownSyndromeDay. A misfire by the BBC on this occasion."
Another,@lydsjoiner98 said: "Local oddball' being used to describe a man with Downs Syndrome on #LineofDuty - oh, and on #WorldDownSyndromeDay - really?! Don’t know how that got passed through the script."
Mick Finnegan added: "It's great that Line of Duty is back. However, calling a character with Down’s Syndrome ‘the local oddball’ on World Down Syndrome Day doesn't sit well with me. Great the actor was given the opportunity but language is key to acceptance and understanding."
In response to the complaints, the BBC released a statement, it says: "Superintendent Ted Hastings' comments were not in reference to the character Terry Boyle's disability - Ted Hastings had never met Terry Boyle.
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"Hastings was looking only at the evidence against Boyle, namely the press cuttings of Gail Vella found in his flat.
"The word 'oddball' means an eccentric person and has no meaning or connotation of disability and Hastings was referring to the stalker/obsessed fan theory of Gail Vella's murder."
Creator of the show, Jed Mercurio, also responded to a tweet from @JimGamble_INEQE who said that the writer need to 'reflect' on the use of the word.
Jed replied: "Oddball” has no connotation for learning difficulties. It describes a loner, an eccentric. It’s an equally fitting description for someone like Christopher Jefferies. The drama is using the term to refer to the Dando case, not to learning difficulties."
