Basil’s Brush with ‘racism’

Britain’s children’s TV puppet Basil Brush has been accused of racially abusing gypsies (no less!).

UK police have launched an investigation into claims that an episode of the Basil Brush Show was racially offensive because it showed a gypsy woman trying to sell the puppet “fox wooden pegs and a bunch of heather.”

Shock, horror!

A spokesperson for the Southern England Romany Gipsy and Irish Traveller Network said, “Travellers have historically sold heather and pegs, but they don’t do it anymore for a living. It could be that someone thought this was a kind of stereotyping like the portrayal of black people in the Black and White Minstrel Show.“

A BBC spokesman refused to comment.

The Basil Brush Show, whose star is famous for his “Boom Boom!” catchcry, first hit TV screens in 1970 and was screened in Australia.

It ran until the early 1980s but was revived a few years ago. It is broadcast in Australia on the ABC.

Personally, I reckon it’s time the little fella got some ‘bad press’ -can’t help but give the show a renewed push!

UPDATE 21/3: Basil cleared.

Source: news.com.au