BBC’s Catherine Tate Sitcom Sparks Race Row Over ISIS Suicide Bomber Joke

The BBC is facing backlash over plans to air a controversial joke in a festive episode of Catherine Tate’s Nan this Christmas.

The special sees Catherine’s foul-mouthed character accuse a Muslim man of being a suicide bomber.

According to the Daily Star, in the episode Nan is forced to attend anger management classes and meets the Muslim man - carrying a holdall bag - at one of the sessions.

She jokes, “Alright. No sudden movements. If this one has got anger problems we’re all in trouble. I think we all just stay calm.”

After the man, wearing a traditional Islamic prayer hat, reveals himself to be a caretaker, Nan says: "Thank God for that. That was close.“

[Photo: Wenn]

The controversial scenes have been blasted by British Muslims for being insensitive at a time when the world is still reeling from recent ISIS attacks.

Birmingham Central Mosque chairman Mohammed Afzal said: "This is insulting in the current climate. People will not find this funny.

"It is tarnishing Muslims with the same brush as terrorists. It’s disgusting.”

A BBC spokesperson, meanwhile, told the paper: “Nan is a comedy character well known to BBC audiences for her outrageous views, language and behaviour.

"Her views do not hold accord with a more enlightened world as the programme makes clear.”