BBC Boss Says BAFTA N-Word Controversy ‘Was a Genuine Mistake’: We ‘Will Learn Lessons From This Incident’

BBC director-general Tim Davie has answered questions from the U.K. government’s Culture, Media & Sport Committee over the incident that erupted following the BAFTA ceremony in which the shouting out of a racial slur was aired despite the broadcast being on a two-hour time delay.

In what has unfortunately come to overshadow the 2026 awards, John Davidson, the Tourette’s campaigner and inspiration for film “I Swear,” made the involuntary outburst while “Sinners” stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the first award of the night. The incident sparked a firestorm of anger, much focussed on the BBC for…