The BBC was forced to apologise after Len Goodman told how his grandmother used to refer to curry powder as “foreign muck” during the live coverage of the Platinum Jubilee pageant.
Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Goodman, 78, appeared on the pre-pageant coverage on the BBC alongside chef John Torode and host Kirsty Young.
During a discussion about what food people would be eating over the Jubilee, Young pressed Goodman on if he was good in the kitchen.
“No,” he replied. “My wife did Coronation Chicken yesterday for our tea. I’ve never had it before. I’ve never had curry powder before, no.”
He added: “My nan used to call it all foreign muck. But I must say, it was delicious, so tasty.”
Viewers were shocked by his remarks and flocked to social media to have their say.
“A dollop of old fashioned British Empire xenophobia from Len Goodman on the BBC’s Jubilee coverage,” remarked one.
“Len Goodman just called coronation chicken ‘foreign muck’ on BBC One so this time-filling before the Platinum Pageant is going well,” said another.
A dollop of old fashioned British Empire xenophobia from Len Goodman on the BBC's Jubilee coverage:
— Adam Schwarz (@AdamJSchwarz) June 5, 2022
"Curry and curry power... my nan used to call it all foreign muck". pic.twitter.com/osDXEgIQJD
“Len Goodman sends shockwaves through the BBC referring to curry as ‘foreign muck’,” wrote a third.
Not everyone was quick to jump down his throat however, pointing out that he was talking about someone from a much older generation, whose views were very different to those of today.
“If you were as old as Len Goodman then your nan probably called it foreign muck as well. Different generation, different times. Stop trying to out today’s values on yesterday’s people,” countered one.
“Oh leave len alone ! My nan used to say ‘foreign muck’ too it’s a generation thing, he didn’t mean to be offensive clearly,” said another.
Later in the broadcast, Clare Balding issued an apology for if “anyone took offence” to remarks made earlier in the show.
A BBC spokesman told the Standard that her apology was “related to remarks made during the section of the show” in which Goodman appeared.
