The BBC apologized over a local radio host's comments. (Credit: Wikipedia, Jorge Barrios)

The BBC had to apologize for a local radio host’s “banter” about race, the Guardian reported.

BBC host Iain Lee, live and on air during the Aug. 8  BBC’s Three Counties Radio breakfast show told his producer to “go and do the black and Asian show.” Three Counties Radio broadcasts in Beds, Herts & Bucks, according to its Facebook.

According to UK newspaper the Milton Keynes Citizen, Lee and producer Paul Scoins were having a “mock row.”

Scoins said he was walking out on the show . After Lee started making chicken noises, he made the “black and Asian” comment.

The comments can be heard on the BBC’s website upload of the video around 2 hours and 43 minutes.

According to the Guardian, the BBC’s response to Lee’s comments:

“We have spoken to Iain and made clear to him that these comments are unacceptable. He accepts this and has apologised. We apologise for any offence caused.”

iMediaEthics asked the BBC if the comments were scripted and what Lee was referring to with the “black and Asian show.” A BBC Three Counties spokesperson only told us,

” As we said last week, we have spoken to Iain and made clear to him that these comments are unacceptable. He accepts this and has apologised. We apologise for any offence caused.”

The Guardian reported that BBC originally edited out the comment before uploading the show to its website but then decided to post the whole show with the offensive comment.

The Milton Keynes Equality Council’s chief executive Navrita Atwal argued that the exchange suggests “programmes aimed at the Black and Asian community are being dismissed as less significant or important than others,” according to the Milton Keynes Citizen.

iMediaEthics has written to the Milton Keynes Equality Council for more information.

UPDATE: 8/18/2014 10:18 PM EST Added where Three Counties Radio is based