The other night I was watching self proclaimed uber-brain, millionaire luvee socialist and tiresome twitterer Stephen Fry on QI XL.
I have always watched - basically because I find the programme 'Quite Interesting' I suppose. Saturday's programme lived up to its title - and especially this revealing conversation between Fry and his guest panellists regarding the Bayeux Tapestry. It sort of sums up everything about Fry and the Brit' loving, English-hating BBC. I've scripted the thread below the picture - and if you want to see it for youself, click here and go to 18minutes, 18 seconds into it.
Stephen Fry: (Looking at a picture of the Tapestry) 'Can you tell the British from the French in that picture?'
Rob Brydon: 'Are the British the four-legged ones at the top?'
Stephen Fry: I should say 'English' rather than the British of course'...
David Mitchell: 'The English are the ones not on horses?'
Stephen Fry: 'That's pretty much true - but also the other giveaway is moustaches.... Some of our English fighters were on horses but the British.... the ENGLISH... (smiles). I'm allowed to say 'English'.... I'm so unused to it, being allowed to say 'English'....
So why is that Mr Fry? Why are you not allowed to say the word 'English' except under very specific circumstances? Could it be BBC Guidlines? Afterall, you do have form on this don't you? Remember how you misquoted Cecil Rhodes on BBC Breakfast Time?
Oh, and by the way Mr Fry, The English were not fighting the French at the battle of Hastings, they were fighting the Normans - Norse men descended from Viking stock...
I have sent a complaint to the BBC - and have specifically asked them why the genius that is Stephen Fry would say 'I'm so unused to it, being allowed to say 'English'
