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Alex Scott reveals why she felt ‘blessed’ after being mocked for East London accentAlistair McGeorge
Alex Scott found a positive (Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Alex Scott has once again addressed Lord Digby Jones’ criticism of her East London accent with another brilliant response.
The BBC pundit admitted she felt ‘blessed’ after the comments made by the former government minister, who previously sparked controversy when he tweeted his frustration that Alex wasn’t pronouncing her ‘g’s’ during the BBC’s coverage of the Tokyo Olympics, and suggested she needed elocution lessons.
Now, Football Focus star Alex has commented on how she felt after the incident last summer, noting she’s glad to be representing ‘young boys and girls’ across the country.
She told the Radio Times: ‘The whole thing that happened with Lord Digby Jones [the former government minister who criticised her pronunciation] just made me feel blessed that the BBC let me be “me”.
‘We’re used to viewing people on TV who speak a certain way, but that’s not a reflection of the UK. For young boys and girls to see a true reflection of themselves is so important.’
The retired footballer – who was born in Poplar to a Jamaican father and an Irish mother – also reflected on her own experiences growing up, and how she has ended up living a life she could only have dreamed of.
Alex admitted she always ‘loved having an audience’ (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage )
Recalling one Christmas she was given a microphone, she added: ‘I loved having an audience! That little girl with the microphone would be proud just to know she paid her bills and made something of herself. The rest would be a surprise.’
Last summer, former House of Lords member Lord Digby insisted he had ‘no regrets’ over his comments, claiming to have had ‘50% support’ and ‘50% criticism’.
He stated: ‘I don’t regret it for one second because I have a point – and I think I’m right. But I didn’t for a minute think it would cause this sort of storm, I really didn’t.’
He had originally tweeted: ‘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.
‘She’s hot on the heels of Beth Rigby at Sky the Home Secretary for God’s sake! Can’t someone give these people elocution lessons? I fear that it may be aped by youngsters along the lines of the use of the moronic interrogative originally caused by “Neighbours”; on behalf of the English Language…..Help!’
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At the time, Alex tweeted: ‘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.
‘A quick one to any young kids who may not have a certain kind of privilege in life. Never allow judgments on your class, accent, or appearance hold you back. Use your history to write your story. Keep striving, keep shining & don’t change for anyone.
‘Tweets like this just give me the energy to keep going. See you tomorrow.. live on BBC baby.’
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