Funny that the BBC thinks the remark is offensive. I once happend to bump into a black man in a dark corridor and apologised to him about not being able to see him in the dark. He very cheerfully replied: " you just have to make me laugh". It all came completely naturally, none of us took any offense at the exchange. I can't understand the fuss the BBC is making.

Regelsberger Martin, Gleisdorf, Austria

What a load of old tosh!! PC gone mad. I too have experienced invisible black people in the dark. Point made very well with Sarah's usual hint of wit and concern. Leave her alone. Get a life who disagree.

Stop listening if you don't like what you hear. My partner and I would not start the day without listening to Sarah before leaving for work. She makes our day!!

Marion, Reading

Marion J Allen, Reading, Berkshire

If I as a Black guy on BBC radio said something in passing about the small genetals of white guys are making a pale reference to their complextion i would get loads of calls form disgruntled and angry whites and secondly i can bet your bottom dollar that i would be sacked on the spot.

But it seems that white folk or should that be albino's can get away with being disrespectful to Black people becuase they have the power and authority to just downgrade Black people.

It is high time so-caled white people stop being politically correct and admit that there is an unsavoury racist agenda being played by ALL the institutions in the UK from the police to the workplace form the media to the schoolplay ground.

It is open season to denigrate Black people and frankly no one gives a toss becuase black people are seen by white people whether they admit it or not as not being worthy or being on their level.

Dr Kwame Osei, Nottingham, UK

The BBC should shut up, there is nothing wrong with what she said.
If a man is black, dressed in black, on a dark night, you can't see him, that is truth.
Just because he's black you can't say anything at all, but its simply common sense.
You have the black police officers assocition, that's offensive to white people, why?
Because if you formed the white police officers assocition, the minority PC brigade would seize and call it offensve, yet its not if its the other way aruond. that's the stupidity and idiocy of the whole thing.
One thing for one HAS to be the same for others.
The Indians kicked the British out and celebrated, that's racist and offensive, why? as if the majoriy here who are against PC said that the things the war heroes died for, to keep our way of life, is being altered by other cultures, and we get rid of that, its called racist by the vocal minoriy, but its exactly the same thing.
Anything white on black is racist, but whites cannot be victims.
Thats why PC wil die

john, lancs., uk

She was right on until she said he yawned or something.

I think radio and TV should be what it should be - entertainment. You don't like it don't watch it.

The ratings will make the change.

The world is so concerned what comes from lips flapping when they should focus on personal action.

Dave, Dade City, USA/FL

Get a life for gods sake. Whatever has happened to this nations sense of humor. There is no way Sarah Kennedy would intentionally offend anybody

Jenny Hill, London, UK

Perfectly reasonable statement, I work nights and coming home at 6 in the morning there are plenty of people white or black wearing dark clothing and no you cant see them until you almost hit them. its called lack of sun not racism, go out and find something more positve to do with your lives, yes ms kennedy is a bit like your dotty old aunt, but this is britain its awash with dotty old aunts!!

andy jones, walsall, england

White people are harder so see in the snow and black people are harder to see at night. That's a fact not racism.

As for black people running faster due to lions and whites better at shooting; that's evidence, which IN MY OPINION is incorrect, though the thinking behind it may be reasonable, if shortsighted.
Again IN MY OPINION Black people are, on average, physically stronger/faster but white people are ,on average, mentally stronger. Evidence backs this up and if that evidence proves to be accurate there must be a reason for it.
The comment MIGHT be racist but to assume that it so is equally shortsighted.

Gareth, Bolton, UK

I have a friend from St. Lucia who, while crossing the street at night, was struck by a car. He is very dark, was wearing black pants and a navy coat and was at the 'dim' spot between the street lights. The driver just didn't see him. Luckily he wasn't hurt, just startled, and he immediately applied reflective tape to his coat. And, with great amusement, told the story repeatedly.

Cynthia Warn, Ottawa,

I suspect Sarah Kennedy will get the same treatment as Don Imus - FIRED! Sure, it's vulgar to perpetuate racial stereotypes or denigrate someone per criteria that is beyond their control. BUT, the PC police are also guilty of great bias - anti-white and anti-male. One recent proof: At the University of Delaware, IF you live in university housing and are white you are automatically classifed as a racist! I'm not making this up. Off-color remarks made by a black, woman, Hispanic, Arab...are routinely excused or ignored. We need to grow up, get less sensitive and spend our energies & talents solving problems - not vilifying people who run afoul of the "PC Laws" - which of course run afoul of the Consititution.

Bud Woods, Seneca, SC

What a load of Tosh
Everyone wh listens to Sarah knows her remarks are sometimes 'unfortunate' No-one who has any sense should take it seriously. She was making a very valid point. How else could she have put this point accross? I would have probably said something about 'the whites of their eyes!'
People who complain about this sort of rubbish should direct their energies into doing some good in the world themselves, rather than rubbishing people who do. Apart from any other charitable work she does, Sarah makes me smile and think about issues.

Terry Billett, Reading, Berkshire. England

This is another prime example of the politically-correct attitude that now seems to dominate everyday life in this country.
Although I do find Sarah Kennedy annoying and never listen to her show, I can't condone this knee-jerk PC reaction to what was basically an observation with no racial undertones intended and I strongly suspect that there was no real offence taken by any ordinary black person in this country.
Why certain sectors of our society feel they have to complain over imagined racial offence at the drop of a hat is beyond me.
How many were actually black I wonder?

Martin Stevenson, Milton Keynes, UK

What a crap country! You are attacked and represed for something like that. So what if she said that. Give her a brake. And stop crying for every little thing, have some dignity.

Vladovski, Minsk,

I think that looking at her photo and er behaviour esp whn she souln't string a sentence together migh well beindicative she has a drink problem and was probably drunk

chris, dunstable, uk

I have sat and thought about this remark and can not see how it is derogatory or offensive in any way. Could some one please enlighten me.
Its dark, he's wearing dark clothes and is dark skinned.
He's hard to see.
He opens his mouth to reveal white teeth which are easy to see.
How is this offensive apart from not really being all that funny?

Alisdair, Perth, Australia

from an old MAD magazine regarding Commonwealth games results:

"when you look at the history of the Commonwealth, it's easy to see why black people win the running events and white people win the shooting events".

the radio comments were careless but not really THAT offensive. is it hard to see an Albino person wearing white in a snowstorm? you bet it probably would be. she merely commented on skin tone without making any further implications from what i understand. wouldnt it be akin to saying that someone with red hair, freckles and pale skin isnt built for sunny weather?

my family heritage is english, irish, scottish, welsh, lebanese, syrian, jewish and egyptian - yet i still have blond hair, blue eyes and will get cancer in about 30 mins of direct sunlight - and that is no laughing matter here in Oz.

should i be offended by negative comments regarding this? no.
should i think that they are perhaps less than intelligent and are living in the wrong century? yes.

solarboy, Canberra, Australia

Should be apologising for paying Ross and crowd eighteen million plus of tax payers money,not this very silly story, who cares ?

mike, alford, u.k.

What a complete load of rubbish we have to listen to. If anyone said they couldn't see white people in the snow, would anyone at all mind?!! Really .......toooooo much!!

Pedro Tam, London, U.K.

Come on Times' journalists - is this really news? Obviously a slow news day if this is the best you can manage. I consider her comments to be a statement of fact rather than racially motivated...

Alexandra, London,

What hilarious bad taste! I had no idea Alan Partridge had left Radio Norwich and had gone to Radio 2!

Polly, Suffolk, England

Gaffes apart, Sarah Kennedy has to be one of the most annoying voices on radio. Cloying insincerity is not the most appealing of traits. I'm fairly sure a lot of her 4.5m audience are simply people like myself waiting for the Togmeister to come on air, and who couldn't be bothered to change channels between the alarm going off and 7.30 in the morning.

Bryan Bailie, Newtownard, County Down

It is unwise for the Times to suggest that Sarah Kennedy has lost 10,000 listeners in the past year. With an audience of 4.51 million the variation would be well inside the accuracy levels of the research. Indeed, it could well be the case that she has increased her audience.

jj, Cambs, UK

I dont understand all the fuss - she is entitled to speak her mind and have an opinion (im sure its good for radio) we are way too pc in this country and is ridiculous. If she had made the same comment about a white man in the snow nobody would have a problem, it seems to me that the racism is allowed toward a white citizen but perish the thought you make the slightest remark to any other social or ethnic group.

A Reynolds, Cheltenham, UK/Gloucestershire

Why, when BBC radio 2 has so many excellent presenters, do people have to wake up listening to this silly old woman? All she does is waffle on about absolute rubbish with the occasional nasty remark about somebody else. Nobody is interested in her opinions on the newspaper headlines and I can't imagine anyone actually enjoying waking up listening to a "show tune"

Surely the BBC can find somebody more talented and less annoying to fill this slot, as the only alternative is a local radio station and that doesn't even bear thinking about.

Andy, Inverness, UK

I have difficulty seeing grey cats in the fog.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Leave the poor woman alone! The next thing we'll be hearing is the famous saying, quote,"I don't agree with what you are saying but I'll fight to the death your right to say it" as unPC?
What's happened to free speech, and anybody who is offended by similar cmments will just have to ""get over it" or get a life,

john bennett, worthing w sussex, uk

What a silly story, she was stating the truth, a black man wearing black in the dark is going to be hard to see. Get a grip BBC. Im sure Sarah meant no harm. If a black man had said it was hard to see a white man dressed in white in the snow their would be nothing said. Is this not racism???? Get a grip

Ben Cole, Worcester Park, Surry

this is beyond a joke it seems that every minority has people jsut waiting in the wings to shout MURDER ! everytime someone mentions something about colour. Is it not ovious that it is hard to see black people in the dark especially if they are wear dark clothing it would effectively act like camoflage... And is it prjudiced given that this was an actual event??? ppl need to grow up

paul, eaton,

But it's relatively true - I've had close misses driving at night when a Black person in Black clothes is crossing the road..... I haven't seen them until much later than I would have seen someone with a lighter complexion - it's essentially an equivalent of camouflage - why would anybody be upset by this?

Andy Iddon, London, UK

Reading stuff like this irritates the hell out of me. You cant say anything now without somebody kicking up a fuss moaning about racism. If its something she genuinly has trouble with why cant she speak whats on her mind if its the truth.
what is this country coming too...

Mark, Kingswinford, England

Bud thats how it is. Its hard to see black color in the dark. Where is here rasism???

Vytautas, London,

Can anybody tell me how to say this without offending a black person?

martin watson, bath, somerset

If you had listened to the context and the manner in which the comment was made, it would have been clear that no offence was intended. Sarah Kennedy's 4.51 million 'Dawn Patrollers' are all slighly mad, myself included, and we value her original and amusing view of the world.

Matthew, HENLEY ON THAMES, England

as far as my attitudes are concerned, I don't see colour.

however, to deny that a black person is actually darker than a white person and so less visible at night if wearing dark clothing is to deny reality. if black people are to be safe, they may need additional reflective clothing. why do you think the s.a.s. black up when they don't want to be seen at night?

what if a dj were to suggest white folk are more susceptible to sunburn and should wear sun cream? that would be racist in the sense that it differentiates on the basis of colour. it would also be very sensible advice.

if we're going to haul people up for being racially insensitive, we should really pull people up for being oversensitive as well. why let the lives of normal people be ruined by the extremists at either end of the spectrum? oops. may I say spectrum?

jem, london, uk

I think its funny. Give her a break.

Presh a black man, Wadebridge Cornwall,

This is just one of a long line of inappropriate remarks. She referred to to vendors of a house she was purchasing as "thieves". She clearly lives in a bubble of privelege. Time to go.

colin, newcastle, uk

I'm pretty sure a black DJ making the same comment would not have been victimized in this way - even if he or she had make the equally true comment that white people are more difficult to see in the snow. At Sarah Kennedy has a cast iron race discrimination claim to fall back on should she ever fancy leaving the Beeb.

verity, London,

Readng your article makes me wonder if Ms kennedy's increasing lack of inhibition and forward thinking may be a symptom of a degenerative mental illness?

Anthony Silver, London, uk

I bet most of the complaints came from white people !
I suspect most black folk responded much like Adebola and to her credit , she is 100% correct .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

Chris from Oxford, spot on!
To say that someone has dark skin means exactly that. It does not mean that the person making the comment is racist, and I find it utterly unbelievable that anyone on any side of the colour spectrum could take offence with it.
What next, PCists will be telling us that the use of the word "black" is racist!

LYDIA BESSIRON, CAMBERLEY,

I love listening to Sarah's chatter over the radio waves. How silly that people would get offended by her - she is not offensive at all in any way. She is fab :o)

Sally, London,

How racist can you get, it was dark, the guy was black, dressed in dark clothing, Hmmm, must've been difficult to see, what's racist about that? The PC brigade have definately got the keys to the BBC if not the entire asylum. (Oh gosh, I've probably gone and offended the insane now).

Jim Burford, Brierley Hill,

Kids nowdays often have trainers with reflective lights and clothes with dayglow strips. Why castigate Sarah Kennedy for making a valid point? Perhaps adults should be more responsible and set a good example to youngsters when they have to walk on the streets in the dark.

alan, Benalmadena, spain

In a submarine in the 60s we used to take groups of RN midshipmen to sea for the experience.
One such midshipman was from an African Navy ..
When at sea, at night, on the surface, the Submarine control room was in darkness and the submarine CO made this particular midshipman wear a white submarine sweater when in the control room as this was the only way we could locate him.

D. Yeomans, Hill Head, Hampshire UK

Politicaly incorrect - who cares. She's right!
I used to work in Lewisham, and the local schoolkids insisted on wearing black clothes from head to toe.
Driving to work in midwinter was a nightmare - you REALLY could only see them when on the white stripes of a zebra crossing!

Mike Bibby, St Albans, England -not EU

Sarah stated the obvious, nothing more, and to see it as racist is paranoid. But we are talking BBC "management".

Until such "race" issues are treated as nonsense, so called racism will still give people like Trevor Phillips plenty to waffle on about, while he ignores the real issues.

Can you see anyone getting away with having a White Police Federation, Federation of White Housing Associations, White Training and Enterprise Group and so on....? Allowing Blacks to have such organisations - that's racism.

As long as these organisations exist, so too will real racism.

stephen, Lorca, Spain

She is right you cant see black men in the dark, there is nothing racist about it. Are the BBC so afraid of their shadow that every possible PC freak has to be apologised to. Dumbing down at the BBC has become endemic and obviously their execs have succumbed

mike gee, bournemouth, uk

What she said is a verifiable scientific fact. Dark colours are hard to see at night.

How can somthing so demonstrably correct by every sensible definition of the word be considered unsuitable for broardcast?

The BBC is far to sensitive to the opinions of a lunatic fringe of ultra-vocal PC-fascists. They should get a grip.

Will, Keswick, UK

Surely human beings need to keep growing as civilized creatures and not make unnecessary and inappropriate remarks nor stridently defending this or that stance which is itself of questionable value.
WHAT WILL CHILDREN LEARN FROM ALL OF THIS??

Can't we all grow???

RF

R Fryer, Seattle, USA/WA

as far as my attitudes are concerned, I don't see colour.

however, to deny that a black person is actually darker than a white person and so less visible at night if wearing dark clothing is to deny reality. if black people are to be safe, they may need additional reflective clothing. why do you think the s.a.s. black up when they don't want to be seen at night?

what if a dj were to suggest white folk are more susceptible to sunburn and should wear sun cream? that would be racist in the sense that it differentiates on the basis of colour. it would also be very sensible advice.

if we're going to haul people up for being racially insensitive, we should really pull people up for being oversensitive as well. why let the lives of normal people be ruined by the extremists at either end of the spectrum?

jem, london, uk

And why do soldiers in the military camoflage their faces for night and other operations? Is it something to do with they are more difficult to be seen by those they do not want to be seen by.... PC stifles any rational debate or factual observations! The 21st century equivalent of witchfinder generals are ever watchful for someone to burn. The lie is that by being politically correct you are being tolerant, caring and forgiving.

Alan, Luton,

PC madness - Sarah just made a factual statement.

I believe there are a huge number of pedestrian deaths in Africa for this very reason, Sarah has made a valid warning regarding road safety for black people - surely this is a positive?

MVP, Walton on Thames,

For heavens sake don't mention the whites of the eyes.

Judy , Liverpool, england

This is political correctness gone mad, the woman stated a fact. Leave the poor woman alone. It makes no difference what colour his skin was, if the lighting is poor and people are wearing dark colours you can not see them. Some people need to get a life and stop whinging. I enjoy waking up to Sarah I change the chanel when Terry starts. SAVE SARAH KENNEDY. Please do not do away with her, she really brightens my day.

carole munro, Milton Keynes, uk

...and white people are harder to see in a snow-storm. What is the point of this story apart from someone being told-off for not towing the PC line?

Charles Gray, London, UK

And this is in the country that gave birth to Monty Python? How I long for a return to the days of the Ministry of Silly Walks. Let's get past this obsession with PC nonsense.

Malcolm Scarratt, Bragg Creek, Canada

This is PC gone mad! Can someone suggest another word to describe a black man without using the "B" word?

Why is it not offensive for black or other people to call someone white? Who decides that white colour is better than black? I happen to like black colour, for my car, my kitchen and clothes.

Maybe those sensitive to this word should suggest an alternative unoffensive word. It is easy to criticise, but come up with a constructive solutuion.

VTan, London

V Tan, London,

lee walker, white people are not hard to see in the dark. I personally have a bioluminescent glow with a faint blue tinge. I challenge any of our exotic friends to show a moon that would make a wolf howl. on the other hand, I do tend cover up (most of the time) so you aren't totally wrong. still, if you see a naked jogger out tonight, give me wave and a smile.

jem, london, uk

Kennedy's show is worth listening to BECAUSE of these gaffes. My favourite was at the end of the show recently when she was explaining that she loved the early rock and roll songs because their brevity made it easier for the media professionals like her to produce an accurate countdown to the news.
With that she put on her last record "One Fine Day" by the Chiffons. Just as I was anticipating a good bit about 30 seconds from the end, the track was abruptly halted to go to the 7.30 news!
Then, earlier this year, the Monday after the clocks went forward, she was complaining heartily about how dark it was compared to the previous week!
Someone mentioned 1957 versus 2007 values, but Sarah is undoubtedly OF 1957!. Leave her on.

arnoldo, Coventry,

so okay we have been called genetically dumb and now we are also invisible.....jeeez what did the black race done to you guys? Get off our back please!!!!!

Clay , Brooklyn, NY

may or may be not true. time to expt with people clothes of similar appearance mannequins. 6 people of different ages and sex to do do the seeing test then publish your findings or read it loud via media for all to hear. everyone can say statement to reveal the truth for others to know advice relevant groups to prevent accidental trauma in dark

s.sangaralingham canada

sangaralingham, coshawa, canada

It would appear to be very fortunate for this chap that he has teeth. Where was this incident; I'm looking for somewhere to move to where there's a decent dentist.

Tony, Llanfair ym Muallt,

Haha, It's true though, you can't see them, there black and it's dark!! My friend Pat was with this girl walking off in the distance wearing all black, I could just see the palms of his hands! that was it! Leave the poor girl alone!

Adam Webb, MK, UK

i listen to sarah most weekday mornings on my way to work, yeah she comes across as a bit dippy and the remark she made was crass, but come on! no harm was meant and im sure she realised she put her foot in it. for anyone who disagrees with me im a black man, get over it

funkg, london, uk

This is ridiculous. Obviously anything darker is harder to see in the dark. Blonde beige-skinned people are no doubt harder to see in the desert. Albinos are probably harder to see in the snow. Smurfs are doubtlessly harder to see when standing in front of a blue screen.

Rachel, London,

Can we now finally get rid of this awful and outdated woman? She witters her way through her programme, spouts rubbish and has a history of making offensive comments. She takes so much time off sick that she makes Terry Wogan's output look prolific in comparison, despite his 12 weeks holiday per year.

There are some quality R2 presenters (standfast Walking in the air boy who is from a similar mould) who cover for her many absences and do a far more professional and interesting job.

Get rid of her!

wadgebeast, plymouth, devon

Nice to see the BBC's politically correct, left-wing, hypocricy rearing it's ugly head again.

Jonathan Ross recently directed viciously offensive remarks towards Heather Mills. Referring to her as "an effing liar" and that he wouldn't be surprised if she had lied about having lost a limb.

How is it that an intentionally offensive remark from one employee directed at a particular individual can go unadmonished whilst a remark which, on the face of it, was merely a statement of fact and not relating to anyone in particular warrants a disciplinary hearing?

AJL

AJL, Newcastle, UK.

white people are just as hard to see in the dark ,plus just the other day i just about saw a Chinese lady in the dark.
Sarah Kennedy is a racist pure and simple

lee walker, london, england

This is crazy, is our radio so censored now that nothing even slightly controversial can be said in fear of offending one group or another? This is truly PC gone mad. Sarah is definitely not racist; she is entertaining and a joy to listen to. In fact, it could be said that her remark is in fact accurate; seeing someone who is completely dark at night is very hard indeed, especially when the face is black too. Come on, let’s have some common sense here and dispense with this PC nonsense. Sarah is a brilliant broadcaster! The BBC is bad enough for its blatant bias toward the Labour government, apologising for this harmless innocent remark is just stupidity in the extreme!

Andrew, Worthing,

How ridiculous! Havent people got anything else to worry about !!
Sarah Kennedy-you rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is an example of how pathetically PC we have become in Britain. When the kids leave home I"m off- AND Sarah can come with me.

GK, Cheltenham, Glos

I find it strange and somewhat ridiculous that someone gets reprimanded for stating simple facts:the guy would have been invisible and therefore in danger of being hit by vehicles. Perhaps that's a good message to get across - might save some lives!! Why read into it things which are not there?

Chris, Oxford,

I have not, up to now, been one of Sarah Kennedy's listeners, but it sounds like it might be worth making the effort. Its nice that there are still one or two presenters who don't fit into the usual grey, boring politically correct mould. True, she may have upset some of the more sensitive souls and, of course, the usual band of zealots were waiting in the wings to pounce on any minor transgression. At the end of the day, her comments were not, to any reasonable person, really offensive (unwise maybe, but not offensive) and they were actually (dare I say it), quite funny. Keep up the good work Sarah!

Derek, Southampton, UK

In one context very non-PC, in another just plain scientific fact! I can see why this has upset many people but lets keep it all in context...dear old Sarah a racist? I dont think so! Far better to hear Sarah than the purile nonesense that follows...yes, the master of over exposure...Mr Wogan. Regularly sitting there trivialsing environmental problems and peoples efforts to rectify them. Do people complain? does the media pick up on this? of course not...he's voted a 20th century icon. mmm, as stupid as ganging up on Sarah I reckon!

Steve Williams, Folkestone, Kent

Fair point up to the bit about yawning and seeing teeth, that's where the line was crossed. It's stupid to think you can't state something obvious like black people are harder to see in the dark without being seen as racist!

Derek Hill, Huddersfield,

So she can,t see black men in the dark , well neither can I so what is all the fuss about. Colours are too dam sensitives if you ask me.

D Case, Newquay,

Why do these dreadful people have to be inflicted on the public at all?
They are so arrogant, laughing all the way to the bank with the licence payer's money.
It's time this woman was put out to grass.

edwina rigby, blackburn, England

This is unfair unless prejudiced was intended and I don't think anybody seems to care about whether it was or it wasn't. Technically, from a distance a white man wearing white in a white room is harder to see than a black man. A black man in a black room wearing black is harder to see than a white man. Can we really attack people for stating the truth? There is an element of humour in both concepts. If a black man had made the same comment about a white guy nobody would raise an eyebrow. Its a truth, no harm done, no prjudice intended. STOP THE GAGGING ORDERS PLEASE! I am happy for a black man to make a similar comment about me if he's pointing out the humour in it and not being prejudiced.

James, Blackpool,

What on earth is all the fuss about? Just another example of PC nonsense! If the event which she referred to actually happened she was just stating a factual truth! Can we not hear the truth any more just because it might offend someone?

Andrew Brown, derby, UK

Really, one has to laugh at her and her comments, though she was making a valid point! We really should stop all this PC rubbish, and stop penalising people for saying the truth - in this case about dark clothing against dark skin, not the running from lions business!

Just to add, I am a black woman!

Adebola, London,