Radio lifts Scots Santa song 'ban'

Published on Friday 21 December 2007 13:19

A CHRISTMAS song by a Capital group was banned by BBC Scotland bosses – and then reinstated to the playlist just 48 hours later.

Santa's A Scotsman was banished by the station's head of radio, Jeff Zycinski, who claimed it "contains negative stereotypes about Scottish people".

However, writing in his online blog, he appeared to suggest the ban was simply a tongue-in-cheek bid to attract some free publicity.

And today Mr Zycinski reversed his decision, accepting that the song by the Scottish Quest All-Stars was indeed just a "bit of fun". However Richard Melvin, the Edinburgh man who wrote the song, was rather less amused by what he described as a "cynical" stunt.

The song's lyrics poke fun at the unhealthy diet of the Scots and the nation's collective fondness for a dram.

Mr Zycinski wrote on his online blog today: "I now accept it does indeed have artistic merit and, moreover, it is probably the case that Santa is indeed a Scot.

"I accept that lyrics which refer to Scots as pie-munchers with a weight problem were intended as a bit of fun.

"As someone who last experienced fun in 1978 I have difficulty recognising it in others."

Mr Zycinski's "ban" came just days after Radio 1 hit the headlines for censoring – and then reinstating – the word "faggot" in The Pogues' song Fairytale of New York.

Santa's A Scotsman has this year been championed by Radio Scotland's Fred MacAuley and Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce.

Mr Melvin today said it was a "real shame" his festive single had been banned by Radio Scotland.

He said: "It's clearly just a bit of fun and everyone who has heard the song can see that.

"I think Jeff Zycinski is cynically trying to get himself publicity off the back of our success."

Mr Melvin is currently penning a song about climate change, called Should We Care If It's Sunny In Scotland? The band are also working on an album expected to be released at the end of next year.