When the controversial remark hits the fan

A recent tweet from DB

There's so much going on at the moment that it's hard to keep up. So for the record...

The BBC replaced the excellent Caroline Wyatt as its Religious Affairs Correspondent last month. Ms Wyatt has, sadly, been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Her replacement is a committed Christian, Martin Bashir. 

Mr Bashir is best known for his interviews with Princess Diana and Michael Jackson. 

The BBC report (last month) announcing his appointment puts the controversial side of Mr Bashir's past in the following delicate fashion:

He resigned from MSNBC in 2013 after making controversial remarks about former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

You can see him making those remarks here. He talks of Mrs Palin being "America's resident dunce", accuses her of "scraping the barrel of her long-deceased mind", talks of "her well-established reputation as a world-class idiot", and then - referring to a notorious slave owner and the punishment known as 'Derby's dose' (which involved defecating into the slave's mouth) - suggests, "If anyone truly qualifies for a dose of discipline from Thomas Thistlewood then she would be the outstanding candidate".

It's to be hoped that he'll tone it down a bit when reporting on the Church of England's next synod.