Katherine Ryan has addressed the controversy surrounding a joke she made about Victoria Beckham, offering an apology while also highlighting her admiration for the former Spice Girl and fashion designer.
The comedian spoke out after the BBC's Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) upheld complaints about the remark, which was made while Ryan was hosting an episode of Have I Got News For You in November 2025. The BBC subsequently removed the offending section from the version of the programme available on iPlayer.
Ryan has since explained the context behind the joke and stressed that she did not intend to cause Victoria Beckham any harm. She also revealed that she had apologised directly to Beckham at the time the programme originally aired.
Katherine Ryan Says She 'Loves' Victoria Beckham
During her response to the BBC ruling, Ryan made clear that her comments were intended as a joke rather than a genuine attack on Victoria Beckham.
Ryan recalled the reaction in the studio after she made the remark, saying the audience gasped before she responded: 'woah, I love her.'
She also shared the message she had sent privately to Beckham after the broadcast. In the message, Ryan explained that the remark had been intended as a throwaway joke and said she did not mean any harm towards the fashion designer.
Ryan wrote: 'Oh my GOD I'm so sorry. It wasn't the way the press printed it at all.' She went on to explain that she had immediately followed the joke by saying, 'Okay I love her actually,' in an attempt to make her intentions clear.
The comedian later reiterated her admiration for Beckham by reading an extract from her forthcoming memoir, Confessions Of A Firstborn Daughter, which includes positive comments about the former Spice Girl.
Why the Victoria Beckham Joke Became a BBC Issue
The original joke came during a discussion about David Beckham and an alleged 2013 email in which he used the same offensive term that later featured in the exchange on Have I Got News For You.
Ryan referred to Victoria Beckham while discussing the language used in the conversation. Two viewers subsequently complained about the remark, prompting an investigation by the BBC's Executive Complaints Unit.
The ECU concluded that the use of the offensive word in relation to David Beckham's alleged email had editorial justification because it was part of the discussion. However, it found that there was no such justification for applying the term to Victoria Beckham.
As a result, the BBC edited the relevant section from the episode on iPlayer. The ruling did not concern the broader use of comedy or strong language on the programme, but specifically the way the term was directed towards Victoria Beckham.
Ryan Offers a Direct Apology
In her latest statement, Ryan acknowledged that the joke had not landed as intended.
'I'm sorry sometimes the jokes don't land,' she said, while reiterating that she was genuinely sorry.
She also explained that she had returned to work just 10 days after giving birth to her fourth child and referred to the experience of matrescence, the physical and psychological changes associated with becoming a mother.
Ryan was careful to acknowledge that this did not excuse the comment. Her explanation instead provided context for the circumstances surrounding the recording.
The comedian also acknowledged that she sometimes forgets that celebrities are not necessarily friends with comedians and therefore may not respond to jokes in the same way as people within her comedy circle.
Acknowledging Victoria Beckham's Influence
Alongside her apology, Ryan used the moment to emphasise that she has genuine admiration for Victoria Beckham.
Rather than presenting the joke as an indication of how she actually feels about Beckham, Ryan pointed to her own writing about the star as evidence of her positive view of her work and public career.
Her comments included praise for Beckham's achievements, while the comedian's private apology made clear that she did not intend to personally insult her.
The episode has therefore prompted Ryan to revisit both the joke and the reaction to it, ultimately giving her an opportunity to clarify what she meant and acknowledge that the remark caused offence.
Katherine Ryan Puts the Focus on Making Amends
The controversy has now moved beyond the original television moment, with Ryan publicly acknowledging the criticism and reiterating her apology to Victoria Beckham.
Her decision to share the private message she sent Beckham also provided further context around what happened after the broadcast. In it, Ryan described the remark as a 'stupid joke' and said she 'didn't mean any harm' towards Beckham.
While the BBC has upheld the complaints and edited the programme, Ryan's response has focused on explaining her intentions, accepting that the joke did not work as intended and making clear that her underlying view of Victoria Beckham is a positive one.
Ryan has acknowledged that the joke caused offence while reiterating her admiration for Victoria Beckham.
