Parents complain that BBC TV host is scaring children
February 23rd, 2009
Cerrie Burnell was born with one arm
From Sky News, [UK] Daily Mail and the [UK] Evening Standard:
The BBC has received nine official complaints from parents that Cerrie Burnell, a new co-host on the popular children’s television channel CBeebies, is scaring their children, according to a network spokesman.
Burnell, who was born with one arm, previously worked as an actor on television and in the theater.
A spokesman for CBeebies defended Burnell. “We think that in time all mums and dads and children will love her as much as we do, ” said Michael Carrington.
Burnell said she was disappointed by the criticism but welcomed the discussion.
“It can only be a good thing that parents are using me as a chance to talk disability with their children,” she said. “It just goes to show how important it is to have positive disabled role models on CBeebies and television in general.”
Disability groups have fiercely defended Burnell and the BBC.
John Knight, of charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, said, “Disabled people experience disadvantage and discrimination like this every day, largely through ignorance. This needs to change.”
Related posts on Britain’s Missing Top Model.
(Photo from [UK] Evening Standard)
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February 24th, 2009 at 6:22 am
It is high time these parents forestall the negative tendency towards disability. The problem is not the children’s resentment but rather the parents’ negativity towards disability. It is sad that despite the leap in awareness some people are still harbouring such retrogressive feeling. We a need more benevolent approach to each other; nobody should be subjected to unnecessary bigotry.