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Arise Sir Ainsley Harriott: ITV apologise over Lenny Henry video gaffe

Oh dear. Someone at ITV is having a very bad day indeed. The broadcaster has come under fire over a video package they aired as part of a segment celebrating Lenny Henry’s knighthood. One of the clips in the video montage did not actually feature Henry. Instead the clip showed Ainsley Harriott, the celebrity chef, performing on stage:

After ITV received complaints from viewers over the mix-up, a spokesman issued a hasty apology to both Henry and Harriott. Given that Henry is a vocal campaigner when it comes to racial discrimination — having repeatedly called for better representation of ethnic minorities on television, Mr S suspects that it’s unlikely a simple ‘sorry’ will suffice.

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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