Strictly Come Dancing: BBC defends Anton Du Beke in race remark row

The BBC was forced to defend its decision not to drop Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke today after the dancer made a racist remark in rehearsals.

The corporation received scores of complaints after it emerged that Du Beke called his dancing partner, the actor Laila Rouass, a "Paki". Du Beke, who also fronts the BBC1 gameshow Hole in the Wall, apologised after his comments were published in the News of the World.

The BBC denied accusations of double standards given that it had axed Carol Thatcher from The One Show in similar circumstances earlier this year.