BBC defends itself on BBC over Carol Thatcher 'Golligate' row

At last. BBC controller Jay Hunt went on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning to defend the axing of Carol Thatcher from The One Show for describing a black tennis player as "a golliwog".
Hunt made several points. She claimed Thatcher's remarks were "totally inappropriate"; were said in front of 12 people; were made in a BBC green room, which Hunt said was a BBC workspace; and she was given an opportunity to make a full apology but declined saying her remark was a joke. Hunt said Thatcher could and would work for other parts of the BBC but not The One Show.
A robust defence and a contrast to yesterday when John Humphrys said no-one from the BBC was prepared to go on the programme to discuss the affair.

Why won't the BBC talk to the BBC about the Carol Thatcher 'golliwog' row?

John Humphry's on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning on the Carol Thatcher "golliwog" row which has led to her being axed from the BBC's 'The One Show': "We wanted to talk to the BBC but the BBC wouldn't talk to us."
This always sounds so bad on a programme that when it says "we asked a Government minister to talk to us but they declined" leaves the listener with the impression the Government or the minister has something to hide.
BBC management should realise not putting up someone to defend itself on its own news programmes is just very bad PR.
The BBC refused to put up anyone on BBC Radio 4's PM programme to defend itself against MP John Pugh's Early Day Motion motion accusing it too much "recession woe" in covering the economic crisis. It also refused to put up anyone on BBC Radio 4's Feedback programme to answer listeners' claims that business editor Robert Peston's gloomy reports were causing panic in the markets.