BBC presenter Nicky Campbell has apologised to his colleagues after quoting a homophobic slur when telling an anecdote during a meeting.
The broadcaster, who currently hosts a show on BBC Radio 5 Live, allegedly used the term “p*****r” when telling a story about another person who had used the offensive term.
The Independent understands that when Campbell was made aware that some people had been offended by the language used, he apologised to the team face to face in a meeting shortly afterwards.
According to The Daily Mail, Campbell, 65, was asked to attend a meeting to discuss the use of terminology.
“At the time, about half the people were saying, ‘What the f***,’ but others were laughing about it,” a source told the publication. “But there’s been a growing backlash since then. There are people who could be really offended by the comment.”
The Independent has approached the BBC and Campbell for comment.
Campbell has been a presenter on BBC Radio since 1987, having moved over from Capital Radio at the time. He joined 5 Live in 1997 and has occasionally presented shows on BBC Radio 2, 3, and 4.
On TV, he’s best known for hosting Long Lost Family alongside Davina McCall – tracking down the secret siblings of foundlings or family separated during childhood – as well as BBC One’s The Big Questions and Watchdog. In 2024, he competed on The Masked Singer UK, where he was revealed as the celebrity behind “Dippy Egg”.
Last month, Campbell said that his daughter had been badly injured in a hit-and-run incident, with an e-bike running into 26-year-old Lilla in Peckham, London.
Writing to social media, he said that he’d had a “long and emotional night” in A&E with Lilla, adding: “Hopefully there is CCTV.”
“Once he saw the ambulance arrive (two mins) and the crowd gathering – he scarpered. Her sisters were with her,” Campbell added. “She is badly injured but now at home. It could have been so much worse. We are incredibly lucky.”
The situation became even more challenging when a drunken man entered the hospital room in which Lilla was recovering and exposed himself.
“When she and her sisters and a friend arrived at A&E, a drunk entered the trauma room where they were and exposed himself to them,” he added. “The police were there and he has been arrested. The police were magnificent. I spoke to them when I arrived at 3.15 and he is now in custody.”
Campbell featured at number 25 on the BBC’s annual salary list for 2025 to 2026, with the presenter earning between £295,000 and £299,999. This was down on his salary last year, which was between £300,000 and £304,999.
