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Presenting BBC News, Fiona Bruce remarked on the mortality rates of coronavirus and claimed those in “lower-skilled jobs” were at a higher risk of contracting the virus. The BBC has now apologised after viewers complained about the remarks.
The newsreaders was reporting on new Office of National Statistics figures citing higher deaths amongst lower paid workers.
Fiona told viewers of the nightly news bulletin: “People in lower-skilled jobs such as security guards, care workers and bus drivers are amongst those most likely to die from coronavirus according to new data.”
Those tuning into the report were outraged and took to Twitter to complain about Fiona’s remarks arguing “low paid” was not the same as “low skilled”.
One viewer posted on Twitter “Wow! Fiona Bruce should think again before calling care workers ‘low skilled jobs’.
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“Who would you rather have looking after you in a health crisis? – a care worker – a BBC news reader.”
Another shared: “I’d politely suggest that reading an autocue is a lower skilled job than driving a bus, being a care worker or security guard.
“Low paid does not mean low skilled and if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to redress the balance.”
“Fiona Bruce on @BBCNews casually talking about careers being ‘low skilled,’” a third added.
“About time we spoke about these jobs as being “low paid” rather than assuming sells levels are necessarily low!”
The BBC has now issued an apology explaining they were “reporting on the figures from the Office of National Statistics”.
They added they “appreciate the concern” that the descriptions of “unskilled” and “low skilled” can downplay the important work people do.
A statement from the broadcaster said: “We were reporting on the figures from the Office for National Statistics, and the terms ‘low-skilled’ and ‘unskilled’ are the ones the ONS itself applies to particular types of jobs, which is why we used them.
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“However, we appreciate the concern that these descriptions downplay the important work that many people do, particularly key workers, and we altered the way we described these groups as a result of this feedback on later bulletins.
“There was no intention to cause offence and we are sorry that some viewers felt this was the case.”
Fiona did get some support from viewers who defended her comments, with one tweeting: “People going mad at Fiona Bruce for accurately quoting a government definition.”
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Another added: “Now everyone is p***** off at #fionabruce for calling key workers unskilled. They are! A job where you don’t need a specific skill to work there is unskillled.
“That doesn’t mean they’re not important! Nurses, bus drivers, supermarket workers are needed, but still unskilled. Fact.”
BBC News airs weeknights on BBC One at 6pm.
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