Coronation Street has dropped one of its regular directors over online posts rubbishing concerns over racism in the industry.
Steve Finn, a freelancer who has worked on the long-running soap over the past two years including this year's Christmas Day episode, has been axed by the show after making Facebook posts 'inconsistent with the values of both Coronation Street and ITV.'
He made the comments in response to TV presenter, broadcaster and historian David Olusoga telling the Edinburgh TV Festival that his career had sometimes left him feeling 'crushed, isolated' and 'disempowered.'
Mr Olusoga wanted to talk about his experiences as a black person working in TV 'in the spirit of Black Lives Matter.'
While he felt working in TV was 'the best job in the world' he added the industry's 'culture' had also led him to seek treatment for clinical depression.
Mr Finn responded to Mr Olusoga's comments in August by claiming he had never seen any racism during his 40 years of working in the industry.
He mocked: "Oh poor dear, so crushed by his success on the unenlightened British media. Could I get just a tenth of his salary for making programmes which people actually watch, as he is so crushed?"
He told one follower: "I have worked in this business for over 40 years and I have not seen one instance of racism.
"I'm afraid I find people like him beyond contempt because he has made a very nice earner out of his niche abilities, but now wants to ride the racism high-horse to maximum effect.
"I am a product of the white working-class, and have often felt alone and isolated, and yes unwanted, especially in the BBC, but I would never have made such a shameful parody of myself just to further my career."
He wrote the following month: "I notice that David Olusoga, who was so crushed by racism in the media, has a new programme on BBC 4 for which I bet he was paid a hefty fee.
"Also he seems to have quite tasty book deals telling us what racists we are! Jeez, I wish I could earn that kind of money...kerching! *sigh* I will just have to go on making TV programmes watched by millions more than his for a fraction of his salary and shut up."
Mr Finn recently expressed his pride as Corrie aired its milestone 60th anniversary episode on December 9.
He wrote: "Serious kudos to all the actors, writers, directors and crew involved in tonight's Coronation Street. "It was really fabulous."
An ITV spokesperson said: "We have been made aware of comments on social media by a freelance director, Steve Finn, which are inconsistent with the values of both Coronation Street and ITV.
"The director will not therefore be returning to Coronation Street."
