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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Will Twigger

BBC stands by show after Katherine Ryan's 'straight white men' joke sparks complaints

The BBC has stood by last night's episode of All That Glitters: Britain's Next Jewellery Star after a joke cracked by host Katherine Ryan prompted an online backlash.

Comedian Katherine fronts the show, which sees eight jewellers compete to become the next big name in jewellery.

And during the contest, Katherine stopped to chat with Sri Lankan-born designer Tamara.

Katherine urged her to have greater belief in her own abilities, reckoning that she would be more confident if she were a "straight white man."

"Think about Boris Johnson, how pleased he'd be right now," she joked.

And while Tamara laughed, some viewers took offence, some even branding it "disgusting."

Katherine cracked a joke about the 'confidence of straight white men' (BBC/Twenty Twenty Productions Ltd/Mark Bourdillon)

"Think like a white man? Really? Very inappropriate comment," another raged.

The BBC has since responded in a statement reading: "Many viewers of this programme will be familiar with Katherine Ryan's well-established style of comedy after multiple appearances on BBC comedy programmes over the years.

"Comedy is one of the most subjective areas of programming and we can assure you we never set out to offend viewers with anything we show."

The show searches for the UK's next big name in the jewellery biz (BBC/Twenty Twenty Productions Ltd/Mark Bourdillon)

And while the joke prompted rage among some, others didn't take it so seriously and saw the funny side.

Meanwhile, the Mirror's Sara Wallis reckoned All That Glitters is destined to become a staple of the TV schedule going forward.

"It's host Katherine Ryan who sparkles the most, bringing glamour, warmth and the obligatory innuendo, whipping up some atmosphere all by herself," she writes.

Katherine's a highlight of the series - brining charm and humour (BBC/Twenty Twenty Productions Ltd/Mark Bourdillon)

"Even if you have no interest in watching people hammer, solder and weld, Katherine's wit and wisdom is reason enough to tune in."

Next week's show will see the contestants weld a chain collar, and produce a sweetheart brooch for an officer to take on her next tour of duty.

*All That Glitters airs Tuesdays at 8pm on BBC Two.

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