BBC’s Alex Scott slams peer who criticised her accent during Olympics coverage & says she’s ‘working class & proud’
BBC’S Alex Scott has slammed a peer who criticised her accent during the Olympic coverage as she says she’s “working class and proud.”
The former England star, 36, came under fire from Lord Digby Jones, a former Government minister, who suggested she needed “elocution lessons.”
The peer in the House of Lords said: “Enough! I can’t stand it anymore!
“Alex Scott spoils a good presentational job on the BBC Olympics Team with her very noticeable inability to pronounce her ‘g’s at the end of a word.
“Competitors are NOT taking part, Alex, in the fencin, rowin, boxin, kayakin, weightliftin & swimmin.”
But Ms Scott slammed the former minister, responding to the tweets: “I’m from a working class family in East London, Poplar, Tower Hamlets & I am PROUD.
“Proud of the young girl who overcame obstacles, and proud of my accent! It’s me, it’s my journey, my grit.’
She said: “Use your history to write your story. Keep striving, keep shining & don’t change for anyone.”
The 36-year-old added: “Tweets like this just give me the energy to keep going. See you tomorrow.. live on BBC baby.”
One person on social media said: “The privileged showing their distain for the working classes becoming successful.
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“Alex has achieved so much in her life and is a charming young lady and is doing a great job, so you had better get used to seeing her on your TV screen for a long time to come!”
Another user wrote: “Alex – you’re doing a great job. I think we’d all welcome a period of permanent silence from Digby, whatever his accent.”
Alex has been presenting the BBC’s coverage of the Olympics and told the Sun that she has to “pinch herself” every time she’s in the studio.
Before covering the Euros, she wrote: “Before I went on to win over 140 caps for my country, I was always a fan.
“As a kid, I would pull on an England shirt and try to replicate goals from the greats like Gazza, Alan Shearer, and Teddy Sheringham.
“So it gives me goosebumps to now be on screen as part of the BBC’s presenting line-up for the tournament.
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“When I’m in the studio for England games I live and breathe the build-up to the match like the millions of fans out there on their sofas, in beer gardens and streaming into stadiums.
“I am known for being a professional footballer but that little girl who grew up as a Three Lions supporter never goes away from me.”