You do realise that lesbians existed before the 21st Century, don't you DM? Writers such as Radclyffe Hall were publishing novels about homosexuality in the 1920's. I'd say Upstairs Downstairs is doing rather a decent job of accurately depicting what life was like for a gay person back then; having to pretend to be straight, but conducting their real relationships through affairs. And what a ridiculous statement "Several high-profile programmes have introduced lesbian characters and have enjoyed a ratings bounce as a result". Any evidence for that? Or are you trying to say that most viewers are shallow males and only tune in when there's a bit of lesbian action on offer? You know there was once a lesbian couple in an episode of Miss Marple, how about you write an article on that. Oh, sorry, that was ITV, no opportunity for BBC bashing there.
- Lucy Webster, Sheffield, 26/2/2012 01:20
Click to rate Rating 220

So there you have it. The BBC is a collection of cowards led by a coward. The country is currently experiencing slight earth tremors. Viewers should not be alarmed. This is just Lord Reith spinning in his grave.
- David Wight, Carrickfergus, 27/2/2012 5:22

Too bad Christians are not prone to riot at the drop of a hat or some inconvenient portrayal of the deity otherwise they could be handled with the same kid-glove treatment as other religions eh?
- John, Perthshire, 27/2/2012 9:29

Treat us with less dignity and respect Thompson at your peril. If you think Christians can't be motivated enough to stop their purchase of a television licence in protest, for example, then you are labouring under an illusion. The Corporation can be brought to its knees, as can correupt and evil governments.
- C. Thing, down the Rabbid Hole, 27/2/2012 4:33

Broad shouldered? You mean because Christians don't go round threatening to blow people up, you feel it OK to slight them at every opportunity while kissing up to minority faiths. Typical left-wing BBC.
- Anne, London, 27/2/2012 10:35

Translate Broad shoulders to Turn the other cheek, what a load of cowards these liberals are, still they find the excuse in, race is attached to non Christians. And we let these creatures run our lives.
- Jack, Westmorland, 27/2/2012 9:24

Because Christians don't blow themselves up or shoot people in the street for their god
- Rob, England, 27/2/2012 12:20

So they're admitting religious discrimination and yet the Police just sit back and ignore it...............................back to the one rule for them and another for everyone else.
- John, England, 27/2/2012 12:14

So now Mark Thompson of the BBC bias is an expert on christianity and all other faiths and what it means to people......typical we know best BBC. Perhaps the govt. instead of fixing the TV tax until 2016, money which pays over bloated salaries to the BBC managers, should consider removing the TV tax and making the BBC stand on it's own in a private world the same as other broadcasters have to. Remove the 'comfort zone' of this public TV tax finances and the BBC might have to get on with living in the real world and treat it's viewers/listerners with some common sense........for Thompson to admit that the BBC pays little or no heed to the sensitivites of christians in a christian nation is bordering on the arrogance of 'you can't touch me'
- Daveyboy, Romford, 27/2/2012 13:03

I would respectfully point out to Thompson that he need not be worried that we might fly a plane into the BBC buildings - but he should be aware of the swell of opinion which is prompting us to cut off the supply to the trough he feeds from by withholding our licence fee.
- R.F.Yorke, Yorks, UK , 27/2/2012 12:31

Perhaps we should go around shouting abuse and threatening to bomb the life out of everyone when we don't get a fair hearing, Our countrie's religion is Church of England whether these minorities like it or not, it is our fairness that lets them practice their relgion in our Country, you want to go to some of their countries and set up a church and then see where that ends up. The trouble with us is that we just mumble and let these zelots get away with anything. It is just a shame that I am too old to take up the fight, this is the only way I can now have my say. If this is printed!!!!!!
- brenda, london, 27/2/2012 10:59

The BBC are a joke. Most manipulative left wing pro Europe TV channel. Only things worth watching are Top Gear and Sir David Attenbourgh
- UK needs UKIP, northeast, 27/2/2012 12:10

Such a despicable individual. Another piece of dirt who shouldn't even call himself British or English.
- Iacapa, Lurgan N.Ireland and UKIP, 27/2/2012 12:44

What a bunch of snivelling little cowards we have in television today. The BBC have helped sell British people and the British way of life down the river, they are anti everything that this country stands for and a huge insult to the licence payers. I very rarely watch anything on this channel and object strongly to being forced to pay them this ridiculous fee for the rubbish lefty nonsense they offer as viewing. It is out dated and no longer required so get rid of licence fees and see how they survive without the unfair advantage of squeezing the tax paying public.
- Milly, Sussex, 27/2/2012 11:59

Pretty broad shouldered. What you mean is that Christians on the whole these days have moved with the times, don't get all uptight and violent, draw attention to themselves or demand to be treated differently. On the other hand we have a certain other religion practised in this country which appears intolerant of all other religions, threatens violence to people who don't agree with it and is stuck firmly in the 12th century. I am not religious but I can see that people pussyfoot around one group of people and ride roughshod over the feelings of others.
- Miss Sam C, Southampton UK, 27/2/2012 15:20

You mean because Christians don't go round threatening to blow people up, you feel it OK to slight them at every opportunity while kissing up to minority faiths.
- Anne, London, 27/2/2012 10:35

On the other hand we have a certain other religion practised in this country which appears intolerant of all other religions, threatens violence to people who don't agree with it and is stuck firmly in the 12th century.
- Miss Sam C, Southampton UK, 27/2/2012 15:20

Excellent, another truthful BBC bashing article getting under the skin of the failed-watch. Keep digging the dirt until the population realises just how much they are paying for the brainwashing propaganda. Bonus - it upsets the failed-watch lefties. Win-win I say.
- Andy C-T., Scarborough, 27/2/2012 18:47

That's after he's finished sodomising pigs out in the wilds of Scarborough. Disgusting habit, still, keeps you away from the kiddies, eh, Andy?

Keep digging the dirt until the population realises just how much they are paying for the brainwashing propaganda.

I've just finished watching the first instalment of the BBC's 'Empire' with Jeremy Paxman. It was a pleasure watching something free from the imperialist gloss of the Little Englander. If there were any Mailites watching it, I'd imagine that they would be shifting rather uncomfortably in their armchairs. Either that or they'd put the programme in the overstocked box marked 'BBC Lefty Propaganda'.

The hand-wringing of the British establishment over the 250 years of Empire needs little introduction. Our cruelty, culpability and rapacity is now taught routinely in our schools and universities whenever the subject of our imperial past is raised. Many of our kids cannot read and write, but they all know that we were responsible for the slave trade and the opium wars.

BBC hit by a Humper ding-dong as it's swamped with complaints over UK’s Eurovision entry