Benefits Street rant got Paul O'Grady 'banned' from The One Show
TV presenter Paul O'Grady has said he was "banned" from appearing on The One Show after ranting about the controversial Channel 4 series Benefits Street.
Paul caused a stir two years ago when he appeared as a guest on the BBC programme and laid into Benefits Street, describing its cast as "sacrificial lambs" who were being exploited to "get middle England up in arms".He said programme-makers had decided not to invite him back for "a few months" until things died down.
The 60-year-old told The Mirror at Hampstead Literary Festival: "I was banned from The One Show for kicking off. Lets face it, The One Show."
On the show's presenters, Alex Jones, 39, and Matt Baker, 38, he said: "I always feel like an old slapper when I go on that because they are so squeaky clean. They are so earnest and lovely.
"Matt is a vicar's son brought up on a farm and there is me brought up on the Dock Road in Birkenhead."
"They are so lovely but they always ask me a contentious question," he explained.
"I tell them 'Don't ask me anything about Boris Johnson, the government or anything. I am happy to talk about mohair sweaters and bath salts and anything else you want to talk about'.
"Of course, I kick off and there is murder about it and they are like 'We won't have Paul for a few months, until the heat dies down and until the villagers with the burning torches have gone away'."
The appearance sparked complaints when Paul said: "These people are the sacrificial lambs on the altar of light entertainment and they have gone willingly: a smart tongue has got them to say all sorts and it is a very unfair representation of unemployment in this country."
At the time, the BBC responded to complaints from some viewers that Paul's views "were not adequately challenged".
The statement said: "Paul was clearly identified as a Labour supporter and he was challenged on how he would reduce the benefits bill.
