BBC upholds complaint over Katherine Ryan’s ‘gratuitously offensive’ remark about Victoria Beckham

Sean O'Grady (PA)Fri, September 25, 2026 at 9:43 AM UTC

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The BBC has upheld a complaint regarding an episode of Have I Got News For You in which Lady Victoria Beckham was compared to a "particularly offensive word".

Guest presenter Katherine Ryan made the remark during the 7 November broadcast while discussing a private email from 2013, in which Sir David Beckham allegedly used the word "c****".

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."

The BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) determined that referencing Sir David’s alleged language was permissible, but comparing his wife to it was not.

In its ruling, the ECU said: "There was no such justification for a comment which presented Victoria Beckham as equivalent to a particularly offensive word."

Katherine Ryan made the remark while hosting Have I Got News For You in November (PA Wire)

It added: "The relevant BBC editorial guidelines do not require programmes to avoid giving offence but do require that any offence should be editorially justified."

The ruling noted two viewers complained the remark was "gratuitously offensive".

An edited version will now replace the original broadcast on BBC iPlayer.

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The news regarding Victoria Beckham comes after it was reported earlier this month that her company had made its first profit for 18 years.

The former Spice Girl debuted her first ready-to-wear collection at New York Fashion Week in 2008, before expanding to include a beauty line in 2019, but three years later it was nearly £54 million in debt.

As reported by the Financial Times, accounts show Victoria Beckham Holdings Ltd has recorded an operating profit for the first time in 18 years.

The brand reported an operating profit of £7.3 million in 2025, compared with a £1.6 million loss in the previous year.

This is in addition to the increase in total revenues of 15 per cent to £129.8 million in 2025, up from £112.7 million in 2024.

Speaking to the publication, Lady Beckham said: “We have all worked hard for a long time for this moment of profitability and growth.

“We’ve been very transparent about the problems that we had in the business but have recovered and are now growing at a sensible pace.

“After 20 years, people don’t look at my brand as a celebrity brand any more.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”