iona Bruce has apologised for referring to an viewers member as a “black man” throughout an episode of Question Time.
Newsreader Bruce, 59, hosts the topical debate programme, throughout which she selects viewers members to ask inquiries to a panel of politicians and different media figures.
In the course of the present’s broadcast on Thursday, she described one viewers member as a “black man” whereas selecting him to contribute.
The remark has since been edited out of the BBC iPlayer model of the episode and the company has apologised for the presenter’s alternative of phrases.
In a press release launched by means of the BBC, Bruce stated: “I completely perceive why my phrases final night time induced offence and I apologise.
“I’ve spoken to the viewers member straight and defined that often I can see and describe an merchandise of clothes or in any other case to assist sound engineers with a microphone discover individuals within the viewers.
“Final night time that was not the case as my view was obscured.
“Within the break up second I had, the best factor to do would have been to disregard the viewers member and transfer on, however I felt strongly that his voice must be heard.
“Nonetheless, I really feel it was improper to determine him as I did and that’s why it was faraway from the later edited programme.”
A BBC spokesperson stated: “We remorse the selection of phrases used to determine the viewers member.
“The intent was to make sure his voice was heard, nevertheless we recognise we should always not have recognized him on this approach and apologise for any offence induced.
“As such the recorded model on iPlayer has been edited to take away this.
“The present had been broadcast dwell at 8pm on Thursday on BBC iPlayer, and the recorded model, which was edited to take away the phrases, was broadcast on BBC One and is the model now obtainable on BBC iPlayer.”
Bruce has hosted Query Time since 2019 and took over from long-serving presenter and journalist David Dimbleby.