Clive Myrie reveals shocking extent of racial abuse faced as BBC newsreader

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Clive Myrie has shared information about the threatening messages he has received, which even included mentions of the specific type of bullet that would be used to take his life.

During an interview with Lauren Laverne on the latest episode of Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Myrie, who is 59 years old, discussed an unanticipated challenge that comes with increased audience exposure: being targeted with racial insults and receiving threatening messages about his life.

Myrie stated that he had been sent excrement and "cards through the mail with pictures of gorillas", in addition to electronic messages that expressed: "You don't belong on our television; you dress like a prostitute."

Myrie has been a part of BBC for a while now, since the 80s to be precise. But over the years, he has made a name for himself as a journalist and presenter, and has become a well-known face on the network. This is thanks to his noteworthy hosting roles, like taking charge of Mastermind ever since 2021.

He went on to say: "However, there was one man who made threats to kill me. He was caught and charged for his actions, since his threats included specific details about the type of bullet he would use to carry out the murder."

After being informed, I felt a bit disturbed for some time. I had the impression that someone was trying to impress everyone and it was just a false display of courage.

After their investigation, they discovered that the individual had a history of being convicted for carrying firearms unlawfully. This caused me to become extremely worried and wonder about what potentially dangerous actions this person could have been plotting.

Myrie, whose parents are Jamaican and who was born in Farnworth, a town near Bolton, spoke last month at the Hay Festival about the traumatic experience. He pointed out that the events of 2017 were a stark example of just how far some individuals will take their racism.

In the upcoming month, the BBC's election night coverage will be led by a duo consisting of him and political journalist Laura Kuenssberg. This will mark their debut in this role, replacing Huw Edwards who left the network in April for "medical reasons". The resignation came in the wake of allegations that he had offered a substantial sum of money for inappropriate pictures from a minor.

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On another segment of the radio program that has been around for a while, Myrie shared with the show's host, Laverne, about his anticipation for the election coverage that will happen overnight once the UK votes on July 4th. Myrie acknowledged that there will be a considerable amount of tension during the broadcast, but he's also excited about the thrill and anxious energy that comes with this crucial coverage.

He stated that he has never done an election program in the UK and is currently acquainting himself with numerous statistics.

However, we also aim to ensure that the event is enjoyable; it's not just an evening for individuals who are obsessed with politics. My aspiration is that it doesn't become exclusively tailored to those who are passionate about politics.

My aim is for individuals to connect and perceive the direction of our country's path and the excitement of being at the forefront.

This represents the forefront of what it signifies to be a British citizen in relation to the elections.

You have the option to keep up with The Independent's reporting of the General Election on this page.