Gary Lineker has found himself in hot water after he mocked his Match Of The Day co-stars Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy for being bald, comments that triggered complaints to the BBC.
Former England striker Lineker, one of the BBC's highest-paid presenters with a salary of £1.75million per year, made a tongue-in-cheek comment during Saturday night's broadcast of the popular football show.
Poking fun at his fellow presenters for being bald, he told viewers: "It's a strong start to the Premier League season. Real hair-raising stuff at times… unless you're Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy."
Shearer and Murphy seemingly saw the funny side, as the camera then focused on the pair who were seen laughing with their head in their hands.
But the incident appears to have infuriated viewers and Lineker revealed that the BBC have received complaints, which will trigger an investigation.
He wrote on Twitter : "The BBC has received a complaint about bald jokes on @BBCMOTD (genuinely).
"Very unfair I feel to call @alanshearer @IanWright0 & Danny Murphy jokes."
The BBC declined to respond to questions about the complaints, and would not confirm whether they were investigating a possible breach of standards in line with their own policies.
A spokesman also declined to explain whether bald jokes would continue to be welcomed on Match of the Day.
They are obliged to reply in some form to complainants, with feedback from viewers circulated to producers and managers.
“At the BBC we are committed to reflecting and representing the diversity of the UK,” its internal guidance states.
“The BBC is for everyone and should include everyone whatever their background.”
On Tuesday, the offending joke - watched online by over 100,000 people - remained online.
A spokesman for Alopecia UK declared: "It’s a shame that those in the media still use that platform in a way that reinforces negativity towards hair loss.
“We increasingly hear from more and more men who struggle with hair loss.
“In today’s society, it seems that jokes about bald men are more acceptable than jokes about bald women or children and this can lead to men with hair loss feeling they are not supported when they struggle to come to terms with their change in appearance.
“Jokes about anyone’s physical attributes are extremely outdated and this includes ‘banter’ about hair loss."
However they also noted that Lineker’s joke was “jovial in nature and with no malice intended”.
