BBC Boss Bans The Word “Talent”
deadline.comDon’t let BBC Director General Tim Davie hear you say the word “talent.” With the BBC’s review into dodgy workplace behavior kicking off following the Huw Edwards, Strictly Come Dancing and Jermaine Jenas scandals, the DG said he has banned a word that has been common parlance in the TV industry for decades.
Speaking to the BBC’s Today program in the past few minutes, Davie said to presenter Nick Robinson: “We often refer to people like yourself as ‘talent’ but I’ve kind of banned that.
You’re a presenter, I’m a leader of an organization, and we’re here to serve.” When Robinson later tried to use the word again, Davie interjected to remind him that it is banned.
He said the BBC is “acting in good faith” to get to a situation whereby “everyone is treated equally regardless of rank.” The new review, he added, will “be helpful for us” in “sorting this culture.” Following the Edwards debacle, which eventually saw the former newsreader handed a suspended sentence for making indecent images of children, the workplace review was ordered by the BBC Board.
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