BBC cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew reprimanded over abusive messages to Independent journalist
Voice of 5 Live test match coverage repeatedly used profane language towards Jonathan Liew, The Independent's chief sports writer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Cricket broadcaster Jonathan Agnew has been reprimanded by the BBC for expletive-laden messages he sent to an Independent journalist.
Agnew, a mainstay of Radio 5 Live’s test match coverage, has been censured by the station’s bosses over his language after he took issue with an article written by Jonathan Liew, The Independent’s chief sports writer.
The former English fast bowler repeatedly called Liew a “c***” in a number of direct messages over Twitter last week.
The BBC acted after being made aware of the messages. Agnew is understood to have been reminded of the “clear standards of behaviour” expected of the corporation’s staff.
The 59-year-old has apologised to Liew over the language.
Agnew had taken issue with a a column in April in which Liew questioned the coverage of England’s selection of Jofra Archer, a Barbados-born Sussex bowler who became eligible to play for the national team in March following changes to residency rules.
The piece quoted Agnew as describing the cricketer’s inclusion in the squad as “a huge call” because “morale and camaraderie is a big part in team performance”.
Liew wrote: “[This] feels instinctively unarguable – who doesn’t love morale and camaraderie, after all? - until you begin to ask why Archer is deemed such a grave threat to it. And why no other player, foreign-born or not, is ever subjected to the same standard.”
He added: “There’s an incendiary word you could posit to describe all this, but I’m not going to use it.”
In response, Agnew demanded that Liew apologise, before going on to send him the abusive direct messages.
“I’m going no further on the advice of people who know you and think you are a c***. I know you are. Think on ... C***" he wrote.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on individual staff matters but we take this very seriously and have clear standards of behaviour we expect all personnel to abide by.”
The corporation’s editorial guidelines state employees should not post “derogatory or offensive comments” on social media or “engage in activities on the internet which might bring the BBC into disrepute”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments