Blind comic Jamie McDonald didn't want format changed, so he could make jokes about it

The BBC has responded to critics who complained that Have I Got News For You should have been made more accessible for blind comedian Jamie MacDonald when he appeared on the show.

Several viewers complained about his treatment on the programme last Friday, such as making no allowances for his visual impairment in the picture round.

MacDonald made several comments about the situation on air – but the BBC says he didn’t want any concessions to be made so he could joke about it.

And the comic himself tweeted: ‘Last night was an amazing career highlight. I absolutely loved being on @haveigotnews. I really appreciate how concerned everyone has been on my behalf but at no point did I feel excluded in any way.’

Despite that, several viewers complained to the BBC to say that the Glaswegian comic’s impairment ‘wasn't accommodated’ by the show, while others took to Twitter to say they were ‘horrified’ by the ‘disgusting’ programme.

The broadcaster has now responded, saying: ‘Whenever we invite a guest onto the show with access requirements, we always make sure they are fully briefed about what to expect in the show beforehand.

‘This was the case with Jamie MacDonald, he was fully briefed and consulted on all aspects of the show, including the visual rounds. He wanted to use the situation for humour and we simply respected his wishes.'

When the show aired, several dozen viewers took to Twitter to signal their concern. One said: ‘As much as I enjoyed tonight’s #HIGNFY the fact they made no allowance at all for Jamie McDonald’s visual impairment doesn’t sit right with me. It reeks of lazy producing and poor awareness of equality laws or even reasonable behaviour’

Another suggested: ‘Watching #HIGNFY and cringing - you really couldn’t have offered real time audio description via earphone for Jamie as an absolute minimum? Or… even… not used visual clues?’

And. a third said; ’Horrified by @haveigotnews inviting Jamie MacDonald & lacking the imagination, wherewithal and capacity for engagement to adjust the format to accommodate a blind person. Jamie took it all in good grace, and Merton was alert enough to try. Appallaing [sic] from #HIGNFY. Disgusting.’

Throughout the picture rounds, 42-year-old MacDonald set up a running joke of repeatedly guessing that Vladimir Putin was the answer.

Fellow blind comedian Chris McCausland has also previously appeared on Have I Got News For You – said he didn’t want the format changed just for him. He said: 'I do The News Quiz on Radio Four, but I don’t want Have I Got News For You to be morphed into The News Quiz just because I’m on it.’

And when Alan Davies apologised to McCausland that no accommodation had been made for him when he appeared on QI, the Liverpudlian replied: ‘It’s cool mate. The world is visual, it’s television and not everything has to be for me.’

Published: 3 Nov 2022