If there was a gold medal for biggest liability on television, it would go to John Inverdale

But he certainly wouldn't be standing alone on the podium. Why is the BBC, one of the most respected institutions in the world, silently condoning such behaviour?

John Inverdale was corrected by Andy Murray when he failed to mention the successes of Venus and Serena Williams in Olympic tennis (Getty)

After winning six gold medals in what has been dubbed “Super Sunday”, the UK has overtaken China to move up to second in the medal table at the Rio Olympics. Naturally, such a glorious day wouldn’t be complete without a middle-aged white male commentator saying something offensive.

I am, of course, referring to the BBC’s resident disaster John Inverdale and his latest gaffe. While interviewing Andy Murray after his Olympic win, Inverdale attempted to congratulate the champion by saying: “You’re the first person to win two gold medals.”

The only problem? Female tennis icons Venus and Serena Williams have each won four Olympic golds. Venus even collected another silver this time around for her performance in the mixed doubles, taking her overall medal tally to five.

Murray was quick to acknowledge these achievements in a response that has garnered praise from the likes of author JK Rowling and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Inverdale, on the other hand, has been widely condemned for “forgetting the existence of women”.

It seems that wherever Inverdale goes, controversy follows. Trusting him to make it through the entire Olympic Games without embarrassing himself is like expecting Darth Vader to take a pass on destroying the rebel alliance to bake some muffins and watch Miss Congeniality.

Inverdale was rightly dropped from presenting the BBC's Today At Wimbledon after making an insulting comment about Wimbledon ladies champion Marion Bartoli's appearance. During her championship match, Inverdale asked viewers: “Do you think Bartoli’s dad told her when she was little, ‘You’re never going to be a looker’?’”

This year at Wimbledon, his dulcet tones were noticeably absent from ladies matches – a clear attempt by producers to avoid another incident. Still, he quickly caused outrage after he likened Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios to a “character from the Jungle Book”. Inverdale has never offered an explanation of what he meant by the comment about the player, who was born in Canberra, the son of a Greek father and a Malaysian mother.

Tennis isn’t Inverdale’s only stomping ground, though. He had to apologise once again after using the phrase “rose-c**ted spectacles” in Radio 5 Live’s coverage of last year’s Cheltenham Festival. Perhaps these are the same glasses that he wears as he liberally applies his fake tan? And I might need a pair of my own after being blinded by that fuchsia polo shirt that he keeps on wearing.

The incident with Murray has marked the end of a week that I’m sure Inverdale would rather forget. Most of his time has been spent covering the rowing, a clever move by BBC bosses. Give the man a microphone and keep him confined to a box next to a river and there’s only so many people he can annoy, right?

Turns out that he’s even managed to fall out with five-time Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave, with whom he is co-presenting. Tension has been brewing between the pair, with Redgrave walking off the set live on-air on Thursday. He reportedly became frustrated at Inverdale for interviewing New Zealand’s gold medallist Mahé Drysdale before the Kiwi press, an apparent breach of protocol.

Redgrave’s frustrations are hardly surprising. If I was a five-time Olympic gold medallist, I'd probably be a bit miffed at having to share screen time with someone who's greatest sporting achievement is “captaining his university tennis team”. If there was an Olympic competition for biggest liability on television, I’m sure Inverdale would win the gold medal every time.

Still, he certainly wouldn’t be standing alone on the podium. Last week the BBC was forced to apologise after commentator Paul Hand made a casually homophobic remark during his commentary. If this is the kind of talent that they are after, I hear that Nigel Farage is on the lookout for a new job? Or perhaps Tory MP Phillip Davies should have a go? He is made for live TV.

It’s time for broadcasters to reject this behaviour and give these men – yes, it is usually men – their marching orders. If you said something racist, sexist or homophobic to a client or customer, would you still be employed? Probably not. So why is the BBC, one of the most respected institutions in the world, silently condoning such behaviour?

The BBC must get rid of Inverdale, and fast, before he has a chance to increase his medal tally by infuriating more people at the Paralympics in a few weeks’ time.