BBC radio comic claims PC bosses told him he was being axed to make way for ‘more women and diversity’
In a tweet announcing his dismissal he said: "Sad to announce I've been axed from @BBCNowShow as 'we want to recast with more women and diversity' Tsk. And I didn't even punch a producer."
A BBC radio worker says the reason he was axed from a show he has appeared on for 18 years is because it is being recast with "more women and diversity".
Jon Holmes, a writer and performer on the Now Show, a hit Radio 4 programme, tweeted about the reasons for his dismissal.
In a tweet announcing his dismissal he said: "Sad to announce I've been axed from @BBCNowShow as 'we want to recast with more women and diversity' Tsk. And I didn't even punch a producer."
He has been a writer and performer on the show since the first broadcast in 1997.
He has said following his sacking he has heard from other people who have been rejected based on 'positive discrimination'.
Later adding some of those responsible for setting up the BBC's diversity policies had got in touch to say political correctness had "got out of hand".
The broadcasting corporation has come under fire in the past for diversity rows after BBC presenter Miriam O'Reilly won a case for age discrimination after she was let go from Countryfile, and later in 2014 the then director of BBC Television Danny Cohen said all-male panels on comedy series would no longer be accepted.
The 47-year-old, part of the program with a weekly audience of two million, was told his fate during an "awkward" phoncecall with a producer.
In an article for the he wrote: "Should I, as a white man (through no fault of my own), be fired from my job because I am a white man?"
Adding: "But, after I tweeted the news, I was contacted privately (quietly and off the record, because people are terrified of saying the wrong thing) by many presenters, actors and even agents who are now being told, and I quote: 'We love your client. He's perfect for the role. But we're not allowed to even invite him in for a meeting because we've been told to cast someone Asian'."
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Trevor Phillips, former chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, told the newspaper: "They are misunderstanding what the point of the diversity drive was about. This sounds like somebody who is basically climbing their way up the greasy ladder and they think hiring black and Asian talent is part of what they have got to do to look good.
"But they don't genuinely believe black or Asian people are as good as white people."
The BBC recently announced new diversity targets to ensure women make up half of the staff numbers by 2020.
The corporation is also aiming to increase people with a black, Asian and minority ethnic background to 15 per cent, with lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people should make up eight per cent of the staff.
Mr Holmes has won two Baftas, eight Sony awards and two British Comedy awards.
A BBC spokesman said: "Our comedy shows are constantly evolving and it is time to create opportunities for new regulars as the show returns this autumn."
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