Criticism after S4C show interviews Katie Hopkins about the Welsh language

ITV Wales has been criticised after Katie Hopkins claimed that she had been interviewed by the broadcaster about her anti-Welsh language views.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood criticised the decision after Katie Hopkins published a tweet saying she had been interviewed for S4C show ‘Y Byd yn ei Le’ about the Welsh language.

‘Y Byd yn ei Le’ is a Welsh language current affairs programme hosted by Guto Harri, the BBC’s former Chief Political Correspondent and Boris Johnson’s Communication Director when he was Mayor of London.

“Giving airtime to someone who attacks our culture and our efforts to promote it is not ‘freedom on speech’,” Leanne Wood said.

“It is cheap sensationalism that gives oxygen to a dangerous hatemonger.” She asked ITV and Guto Harri whether it “was a spoof”.

Katie Hopkins had earlier tweeted: “Good to spend time with ITV Wales – urging the Welsh government to focus on its failing schools rather than forcing a dead language down the throats of children.

“Catch up on ‘Y Byd yn ei Le’ and hear my challenge to Leanne Wood to sit our Welsh, Maths and English GCSEs together.”

‘Challenge’

Responding to the criticism on Twitter, ‘Y Byd yn ei Le’ presenter Guto Harri said that the show would not be offering Katie Hopkins a “platform”.

“As you know ‘Y Byd yn ei Le’ doesn’t ‘give a platform’,’ he said.

“We challenge and expose flaws. Influential commentators can be more dangerous than politicians. Outrageous views need confronting.”

S4C said that the production team will be considering the interview over the next few days.

Media critic Dr Nia Edwards-Behi said that she was “nauseated” by the news.

“If ITV, S4C and Y Byd yn ei Le have really worked with Katie Hopkins and plan on giving her air time then everyone involved should be categorically ashamed of themselves and the media structure in this country needs razing to the ground,” she said.

“As a Welshwomen, and especially as a mixed-race Welshwomen, I’m fed up of the fact that we’re given this hate preacher airtime and the thought that our national broadcaster has given her a platform nauseates me.”

Y Byd yn ei Le, available with English language subtitles, is broadcast Tuesday 9.30pm on S4C.