BBC presenter pulled up for calling Australian cricketer Maitlan Brown 'little Barbie'

A television presenter who likened an Australian female cricketer to Barbie was warned Wednesday that his comment was “not appropriate”. Chris Hughes of the BBC was interviewing Australian all-rounder Maitlan Brown on the sidelines of a match between the Southern Braves and Trent Rockets in The Hundred tournament at Nottingham.

After 26-year-old Brown said she had been to see the Barbie movie with her Braves team-mates, Hughes replied: “You’re a little Barbie yourself with your blue eyes.” Hughes then added: “She’s blushing now.” The BBC said in a statement: “We have spoken to Chris and explained that his comment was not appropriate.”