Chef Marco rebuked over 'pikey' remark

Marco Pierre White has been condemned by the racial equality watchdog after he used the word "pikey" on his ITV show.

The Commission for Racial Equality called on the chef to apologise after he was heard telling celebrity contestants on Hell’s Kitchen: "I don’t think it was a pikey’s picnic tonight."

His use of the derogatory term for travellers and Gipsies led to a row with Lee Ryan, former member of the boy band Blue.

Ryan, 24, said: "I have a lot of friends who are travellers… and I know they don’t like being called pikeys." White replied: "What is wrong with being a pikey?"

A spokesman for the CRE said yesterday: "These distasteful comments are highly derogatory and have caused much offence.

"These high-profile figures should realise that fame brings responsibility. He (White) ought to acknowledge his mistake and apologise for the offence he has caused.

ITV said it had received "a handful" of complaints following Thursday evening’s show.

A spokesman said the language had been flagged as "controversial" at the start and use of the word pikey was "robustly challenged" during it.

"In this context, we feel that the broadcast of the word was responsible and justified," added the spokesman.