Katherine Ryan issues apology as she breaks silence on BBC upholding complaint over Victoria Beckham ‘slur’

The corporation’s Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the remark lacked editorial justification.

In its finding, the ECU stated: “There was no such justification for a comment which presented Victoria Beckham as equivalent to a particularly offensive word.”

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Two viewers had lodged complaints describing the comment as “gratuitously offensive.”

The ECU noted that BBC editorial guidelines do not demand programmes steer clear of offence entirely, but stipulate that any offence must be editorially justified.

Ms Ryan’s comment arose during a discussion about a private email from 2013, in which Sir David Beckham allegedly used the word “c****.”

During the programme, Ms Ryan said: “I don’t know that we are allowed to broadcast the c-word, but you did reference Victoria Beckham earlier, and we’ll allow that.”

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The ECU drew a clear distinction in its ruling between two different uses of the term on the show.

Referencing Sir David’s alleged language was deemed permissible, as it related directly to the reported contents of his email. However, the unit found that applying the word to Lady Beckham herself crossed a line.

The BBC described Ms Ryan’s remark as a slur, a characterisation the comedian later took issue with in her public response to the ruling.

Ms Ryan responded to the ruling with a video statement posted to Instagram. “Hi, I am comedian Catherine Ryan, and today the BBC announced their decision to uphold a complaint made by two very influential viewers about a joke that I tried to make on an episode of Have I Got News for You, 11 months ago,” she said.

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“At that time, though there is no defence, I have to tell you I was suffering from a condition called matrescence. I was in that building with a 10-day-old baby.

“Should I have left the house? This is going to be a tough one for the feminists because I was a woman going to work, but I did call another woman a c***.

“Sometimes I forget that celebrities are not my friends. If I’d called Jimmy Carr a c***, he wouldn’t have minded. Joanne McNally, she wouldn’t have minded.

“But this was described by the BBC as a slur, as though they’re part of a protected group.

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“The trouble is, now that section’s been taken off iPlayer, so the incident only exists in printed media, online media, and then you lose the context.

“Because on the day, if you watched it, it was clearly a joke, and the whole audience gasped, and then I said, ‘Whoa, I love her.’

“Which brings me to my book promo. I have a new book. It’s called Firstborn Daughter, and I love Victoria Beckham so much that I actually included her in one of my celebrity firstborn daughter chapters.

“I’d like to read you that now. Whilst remaining very sorry.”

Ms Ryan proceeded to read aloud a supposed passage from her book in which she delved into the life of Ms Beckham.

“Yes, I sort of jokingly called her a c*** on the BBC, and she messaged me about it afterwards. I apologised unreservedly because although she is c***s, couldn’t be further from being a c***.

“My new book, Confessions of a Firstborn Daughter, which is essentially a comedy memoir over the last five years, is available as an ebook, audiobook, or hard copy.

“I’m sorry. Sometimes the jokes don’t land, and sometimes I sound sarcastic when I’m apologising, but I really am sorry,” she signed off.

The ruling comes at a positive moment for Lady Beckham’s business ventures.

Earlier this month, it emerged that Victoria Beckham Holdings Ltd had recorded its first operating profit in 18 years, posting £7.3 million in 2025 compared with a £1.6 million loss the previous year.

Total revenues rose 15 per cent to £129.8 million.

Lady Beckham told the Financial Times: “We have all worked hard for a long time for this moment of profitability and growth.”