F1 Equality Row

[Wizzo]

Speaking to Bernie Ecclestone during his traditional live interviews prior to the Canadian Grand Prix, Brundle used the word 'pikey' in reference to track repairs that workers had carried out overnight.

"There are some pikeys there at turn 10 putting tarmac down - what do you think of that?" Brundle asked.

The frantic nature of the build-up to the race left both unfazed by the remark, but the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the racial equality watchdog, condemned the phrasing.

A spokesman said: "This word has been used on television in the past and is highly derogatory. They have caused much offence in the past."

'Pikey' is as a slang term to gypsies or travellers but has now been coined as a general term for anyone living with no fixed abode.

A spokesman for ITV said: "We apologise for any offence caused by this remark." He added that it was too early to say if there had been any complaints made against Brundle.

[Steven Roy]

Are there folk wuo just sit and watch TV programs looking for something to complain about?

[Ian]

I thought it was hilarious, so did my mates at work when I told them. 

[CrazyHorse]

Are there folk wuo just sit and watch TV programs looking for something to complain about?

oh yes, remember Mary Whitehouse 

[Alianora La Canta]

I thought it was a bit of a strange term to use for the workers at Turn 10, but I never knew it referred to gypsies or was considered offensive before (round here, we tend to call gypsies either "travellers" or, er... "gypsies").

Bit of a blunder there, Martin...

[John S]

If the term Pikey has become the term for anyone with no fixed abode, ie. travelling folk, this sums up most people in the F1 circus during the season.

Martin himself is therefore a pikey, we all know comics can slag off their own ethnic group, but everyone else can't so where's the beef?

The flaw is Martin would hate to be called a Pikey so he should tone it down no matter how amusing it may appear.

[claw_67]

I've heard the term 'pikers' before, but never 'pikeys' - wonder if it's meant at the same group?

Claw

[Ian]

What's a  ' piker ' then please claw_67

[Steven Roy]

As far as I can see pikey is only used in the south of England.  I had never heard it until I got all my innoculations and went south about 5 years ago.  I would be very surprised if it had made its way across the Atlantic prior to Brundle's comment. 

Out of curiousity does anyone know why the word pikeys applies to gypsies?

[CrazyHorse]

we just call them gypo's

explanation here Steven

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikey   

[Alianora La Canta]

pleiades, I never knew it was a term referring to Gillingham Football Club supporters before. You learn something new every day...

[CrazyHorse]

i didnt know that either Ali

what we all do when gypos site up camp near by is just contionously press the horn when driving past especially in the wee hours of the morning, then they cant get no sleep and soon move on

[Alianora La Canta]

That won't work for my local group of travellers. They've placed themselves in the middle of a disused field, well away from any roads...

[CrazyHorse]

nightmare

[cosworth151]

What's a  ' piker ' then please claw_67

Piker is an Appalachian term for a cheap and/or stingy person.