BBC ‘Fast-Tracks’ Investigation Into Baftas N-Word Tic Broadcast

The BBC has confirmed that an investigation is already underway following the inclusion of a racist slur in this year’s Baftas broadcast.

On Sunday night, the BBC aired coverage of the 2026 Baftas on a two-hour time delay.

Early on in the ceremony, Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson – who attended the event alongside the cast and crew of I Swear, a film based on his life – experienced an involuntary tic and shouted the N-word while Sinners actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were presenting.

John has since claimed that this was one of around 10 offensive words he shouted as a result of involuntary tics, but most of these were removed by the BBC from the broadcast.

The inclusion of the uncensored N-word in the BBC’s coverage has been widely criticised, particularly in light of the fact that a pro-Palestine message during one acceptance speech was cut from the broadcast.

A BBC spokesperson later issued an apology on behalf of the broadcaster, and confirmed that the coverage of the Baftas on its iPlayer service was being edited to remove the slur.

On Wednesday, a BBC rep announced: “The BBC has been reviewing what happened at Bafta on Sunday evening.

“This was a serious mistake and the director general has instructed the executive complaints unit to complete a fast-tracked investigation and provide a full response to complainants.”

Earlier this week, BBC News claimed that the reason producers did not edit out the original slur was because they were working from a truck, and therefore missed the moment when it happened in the room, though this remains unconfirmed by Bafta and the broadcaster itself.

Meanwhile, an internal memo sent by the BBC’s chief content officer Kate Phillips after the Baftas read: “The edit team removed another racial slur from the broadcast. This one was aired in error and we would never have knowingly allowed this to be broadcast. We take full responsibility for what happened.”

Shortly after the ceremony, Delroy Lindo expressed his disappointment at the way Bafta handled the incident, with a spokesperson later issuing a lengthy apology taking “full responsibility” for what transpired.

John also released a statement of his own, saying: “I am, and always have been, deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.”

He also shared one major question for Baftas organisers that the incident had left him with, while his team made it clear that he intended to apologise “directly” to the two Sinners actors.