BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell sparked consternation among colleagues by repeatedly using the term ‘p***ter’ in a work meeting, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The broadcaster, 65, who has worked for the broadcaster for nearly 40 years, used the outdated homophobic slur multiple times during a meeting last week with around six editors and producers of his show.

Although it’s understood he was using the term in reported speech while telling a story, it still shocked colleagues. 

An editor is thought to have apologised to staff after the meeting ended, with Campbell himself subsequently issuing a second apology to the team in another face-to-face meeting.

A source told this newspaper: ‘At the time about half the people were saying, “What the f***”, but others were laughing about it.

‘But there’s been a growing backlash since then. 

‘There are people who could be really offended by the comment.’

The BBC declined to comment – and refused to say if Campbell would face disciplinary action. His representatives have been approached for comment.

Campbell is a veteran BBC journalist, having worked across several of BBC Radio 5 Live’s offerings since joining the station in 1997, which followed a ten-year stint at Radio 1.

Nicky Campbell, who has worked for the broadcaster for nearly 40 years, reportedly used the outdated homophobic slur multiple times during a meeting last week with around six editors and producers of his show. Pictured: Campbell appearing on ITV chat show Loose Women in 2024 

The journalist, 65, is a veteran BBC broadcaster, having worked across several of BBC Radio 5 Live’s offerings since joining the station in 1997

He co-presented the coveted Breakfast slot for nearly 20 years before departing in 2021 to get ‘a bit more sleep’, as he remarked jokingly at the time.

The Scottish broadcaster now hosts a two-hour phone-in programme Your Call from 9am to 11am on weekdays, a new expansion of a slot previously part of the Breakfast show.

It is claimed Campbell used the offensive term as he was telling an anecdote about an incident in which someone had said it.

It comes amid an ongoing period of controversy for BBC Radio 5 Live, after another of its presenters was also hit by scandal last month.

Tony Livesey, who hosted a weeknight show for the station, stepped back from his role in June following sexual abuse allegations against his former colleague David Sullivan.

Several women have accused Sullivan, a billionaire businessman and West Ham co-owner, of abusing his power and preying on them for sex, in some cases when they were teenagers.

Sullivan, 77, has strenuously denied the allegations, made in a joint investigation by The Times and BBC Panorama.

Livesey, 62, previously worked as editor-in-chief of Sullivan’s Sport newspapers. One alleged victim said he had arranged a meeting between her and Sullivan in 1999.

The BBC said the broadcaster, who firmly denied the claims, had asked to take a break from presenting while the claims were examined.

The incident comes amid an ongoing period of controversy for BBC Radio 5 Live, after another of its presenters, Tony Livesey (pictured), was also hit by scandal last month

Campbell started his broadcasting career presenting for Northsound Radio in Aberdeen, alongside studying history at the University of Aberdeen.

After submitting a tape to Capital Radio in London, he was given the Saturday afternoon show, soon taking over the breakfast slot and serving as the station’s main reserve presenter.

The journalist joined the BBC in 1987, starting out on Radio 1’s late-night Saturday programme before later taking on a variety of slots across the station.

He left briefly in 1993 to care for his then-wife, Linda Larnach, who was ill at the time. Campbell returned for two years in 1994 before moving to Radio 5 Live in 1997.