The director-general of the BBC has told its Executive Complaints Unit to carry out a fast-tracked investigation into the “serious mistake” during Sunday’s Bafta coverage which saw a racial slur broadcast.

‘This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional,’ said the broadcaster in a statement

Corporation says it is sorry that racial slur spoken involuntarily during ceremony by John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, was not edited out before broadcast