Mum says reality TV daughter who backs slavery 'is no racist'

Published on Tuesday 23 January 2007 14:25

THE mother of an Edinburgh student who sparked a new Channel 4 scandal after calling for the return of slavery has denied that the teenager is racist.

Lucy Buchanan made the remarks on the reality TV show Shipwrecked, adding that black people were "really bad" and Britain had "way too many cultures".

But her mother Nicola leapt to the defence of the 18-year-old today after the comments provoked a political storm.

Mrs Buchanan, who lives in a Georgian apartment in the New Town's London Street, said: "Lucy is definitely not a racist."

"She's a well-mannered girl from a decent family. But she's only 18. She does have a big mouth. She is a very jolly girl, a very good sport - she will be mortified when she sees this. I just don't think she realises how she might sound."

The former public schoolgirl, who deferred her place at Bristol University to take part in the programme, made the outburst on the show's first episode to the horror of her fellow contestants.

She said: "Britain is a complete mess. I just don't appreciate people coming into our country and taking over our culture. We've got way too many cultures. Britain's not really Britain any more.

"I'm for the British Empire and things. I'm for slavery, but that's never going to come back."

The former boarding school pupil's comments put beleaguered Channel 4 bosses under renewed pressure.

It follows the international row surrounding Jade Goody's racist bullying of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother. The channel's board is already reviewing Big Brother as a result.

But a spokeswoman said Lucy's comments were immediately criticised by the other contestants so viewers were aware they were "offensive and unacceptable".

Media watchdog Ofcom said it had received 196 complaints about racism on the show and expected that number to rise further today. Online message boards were deluged with outraged posts. One viewer wrote on the Digital Spy website: "Channel 4, giving a voice to the BNP."

Black community group The 1990 Trust organised an online petition objecting to her comments. It stated: "Such remarks put Celebrity Big Brother evictee Jade Goody in the shade. The fact that Lucy comes from a privileged background means that social status is no excuse for such racist attitudes."

In an outburst aired on Sunday evening, Lucy, who lives in Edinburgh, also attacked fat people and criticised gays. She said: "They're offensive. They can help it - eat less, exercise more, get their stomachs stitched."

Lucy said she was surprised she had become friends with manual labourer Terri, 23, a fellow contestant.

She said: "Not only because we come from completely different backgrounds and have completely different values, but she's a lesbian as well. Not that I don't like homosexuals, I just don't like what they do."

The gap year student also admits on the Shipwrecked website: "I can't stand fat and ugly people, they really bring you down."

The show sees two groups of young people placed on desert islands in the South Pacific living as castaways. They compete to stay in the tropical paradise and win a 70,000 prize.

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: "When Lucy airs her opinions, they are immediately criticised, so viewers are instantly aware that her peers find them offensive and unacceptable.

"Those who continue to watch Shipwrecked will see, as the series progresses, Lucy's views change as she interacts and is challenged by other contestants."

Richard Smyth, the teenager's former headteacher at 19,662 per year St Peter's School in York, reportedly said: "Lucy had an unblemished record during the time she was with us. She worked hard and was successful.

"However, I was surprised when she told me that she was going to appear on the TV show."

Mr Smyth gave permission for a TV crew to film footage at the school last summer.

"We had a black head of school from Guyana last year, and that is a statement of intent for St Peter's and our system of meritocracy," he said.

"Any student who displayed any racist behaviour would face the most severe disciplinary action."