A BBC Breakfast host has caused a stir with Twitter users after suggesting that some people would describe the characters in BBC drama The Pact as a "woke version of a Welsh family" to bemused star Rakie Ayola.
Show host Victoria Fritz had been speaking to Ayola, who has starred in a number of major TV shows over the years including Noughts and Crosses and Grace, about her role as DS Holland in the new series of the BBC drama when she made the comment, writes The Mirror.
The second series of the pact follows a new story as social worker Christine and her family's loyalties are tested when they're confronted by a stranger, who claim to have a connection that nobody could have imagined. Appearing on the BBC Breakfast sofa with Ayola, host Fritz said: "There will be some people who see this and will say this is a woke version of a Welsh family."
As Ayola rolled her eyes, the host continued: "I can see you rolling your eyes. Tell me. If anybody wants to say that to me, what I would say is explain what you mean by 'woke' and then we can have the conversation," she said.
"If you cannot explain it, don't hand me that word, don't use a word that you cannot describe because you don't know what you mean - or maybe you know exactly what you mean and you're afraid to say what you mean, so let's have that conversation.
"Sit there and tell me what you mean by 'woke' and then we can talk about whether this show is woke or not. Then I will introduce you to a family just like this one. So are you saying that they don't exist when they clearly do? Are you saying that they're not allowed to exist? What do you mean by that?
"Let's have a proper conversation. Don't throw words around, willy-nilly, when you're not afraid to say exactly what you mean. If you don't know, please be quiet because you're incredibly boring."
Appearing awkward, Fritz ended the interview by saying: "Absolutely. Rakie there telling us how it is."
Sharing the clip online, one viewer tweeted: "'There are some people that will see this and say that it's a woke version of a Welsh family' Extraordinarily phrased question to Rakie Ayola re new show The Pact by @BBCBreakfast." In response, one viewer commented: "I think that's an extraordinary question for that BBC presenter to put to her - it should never have been asked."
While another wrote: "Rakie Ayola's response to the 'some people' question was dignified & calm. We MUST challenge more people who use 'Woke' to say what this means. Self described 'anti woke' people seem to be bigoted, racist, homophobes. I'm proud not to be 'anti woke'. Does that make me woke?"
A third agreed, tweeting: "A calm response to a preposterous question. I would've been happy for her to have simply replied - you say some people, which people?"
BBC Breakfast was contacted for comment.
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