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Why is the BBC trying to cancel Biff, Chip and Kipper?

(Photo: Oxford University Press)

For years the Biff, Chip and Kipper books have been a staple of the primary school child’s literary diet – with sprogs across the country following the magical adventures of the three siblings and their friends.

But perhaps no longer. The mop-topped trio has come under fire this week after the children were accused of Islamophobia by readers on social media.

The accusations have focused on a page in the book The Blue Eye, which shows the group arriving in a strange town which looks to be in the Middle East, which the character Biff describes as ‘unfriendly’.



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This has led to accusations that the children were depicting Muslims as being ‘scary’ more generally.

While readers may note that we’re quite some way from Biff burning a copy of the Quran or drawing the prophet Muhammed with a bomb on his turban, his transgression has been enough for publisher OUP to take the book out of print.

Steerpike
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Steerpike

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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