Claire Balding complains to the PCC over AA Gill.

[Ramrod]

Some time ago, I made a cheap and frankly unnecessary joke about Clare Balding looking like a big lesbian. And afterwards somebody tugged my sleeve to point out that she is a big lesbian

oops pmsl

[Horace]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

Wasn't it Ms Balding who made offensive comments about a jockey's teeth? Pot, kettle, black...

I've never heard of someone being violently attacked because of the state of their teeth. Homophobia is still rife in our society - encouraging that hatred and bigotry is no different than encouraging racism. In short, don't encourage the morons who'll use homosexuality as an excuse to be violent.

I've always thought that a journalist's job is to report the news not be the subject of the news..

I suppose the issue is that her sexuality was nothing to do with the program and it seems to be that because she is gay she must now allow that to be the main thing she is know for, even if presenting a completely different topic it must be viewed in the context of her sexuality. I can see why she would fine that irritating. I can also see how it might desuade others in the public eye from coming out when they see the reaction they will get.

Not sure it's too offensive. It's obviously a rather cheap little dig from a cretin but no different to other snide personal remarks he might choose to make about other sectors of society.

[Lord Nikon]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Fully agree. I hate people who take offense to something just to get a few minutes of exposure.

I have no desire to see Claire Balding exposed for a femtosecond let alone a few minutes. Though notably she seems to have a double


Could she be related to



Robert Prescott from the movie 'Real Genius'?

[Pauls9]

I enjoyed her programme, showing us interesting scenery away from the normal car routes.

She's gay? What on earth has that to do with the quality of the programme?

Originally Posted by Pauls9

I enjoyed her programme, showing us interesting scenery away from the normal car routes.

She's gay? What on earth has that to do with the quality of the programme?

Exactly!

[frogstamper]

What was it that everybodies Mum's used to say? "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all".
If people stuck to this we would never hear a word from the likes of Gill, Littlejohn and many other loud-mouths who get paid for being obnoxious.

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by frogstamper

...If people stuck to this we would never hear a word from the likes of Gill, Littlejohn and many other loud-mouths who get paid for being obnoxious.

If people didn't buy the newspapers they write for, and therefore pay their salaries, we would never hear from these poor excuses for journalists.

[frogstamper]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

If people didn't buy the newspapers they write for, and therefore pay their salaries, we would never hear from these poor excuses for journalists.

Thankfully the circulation of British papers has been falling gradually for years now, helped along by a staggering 25% fall in sales between 2007 to 2009.

Originally Posted by frogstamper

What was it that everybodies Mum's used to say? "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all".
If people stuck to this we would never hear a word from the likes of Gill, Littlejohn and many other loud-mouths who get paid for being obnoxious.

Most of the forums members would need to be quiet as well


CB is a dyke ? Never knew that. Seems she is way too over sensitive about it tho - maybe she is embarassed to be gay and it hit a nerve ....

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by frogstamper

What was it that everybodies Mum's used to say? "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all".
If people stuck to this we would never hear a word from the likes of Gill, Littlejohn and many other loud-mouths who get paid for being obnoxious.

That's just it, he DID says something nice. He praised her presentation. It was the presentation of others(mostly, if not all heterosexual) that he actually complained about.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Paul M

Most of the forums members would need to be quiet as well

CB is a dyke ? Never knew that. Seems she is way too over sensitive about it tho - maybe she is embarassed to be gay and it hit a nerve ....

I don't think CB has ever hidden it, but I don't think she has gone out of her way to broadcast it either. Something which I respect her for. After all, who she sleeps with has no bearing on how well she presents TV.

[frogstamper]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I don't think CB has ever hidden it, but I don't think she has gone out of her way to broadcast it either. Something which I respect her for. After all, who she sleeps with has no bearing on how well she presents TV.

I think your correct Stuart, I'd imagine she is like the vast majority of people in the UK in that her sexuality just isn't an issue in her work life, shes good at her job end of story why anybodies sexuality should be the issue of public debate purely because some non entity tries to get a low brow laugh says more about A A Gills lack of comedic skill.
"Dyke on a bike"....ooo-er bet that one took a while to formulate.

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I don't think CB has ever hidden it, but I don't think she has gone out of her way to broadcast it either. Something which I respect her for. After all, who she sleeps with has no bearing on how well she presents TV.

So why such a fuss then. She should just have laughed it off and carried on as normal. Too much fuss over nothing, seems to be a common complaint these days, everyone getting offended over non events.