Big Ron makes TV comeback - in racism film

Former football pundit Ron Atkinson is to make a documentary about racism.

Atkinson’s TV career came to an abrupt end when he branded Chelsea player Marcel Desailly a “f****** lazy thick nigger” during a live TV broadcast.

Now he is to appear in a BBC1 film titled Big Ron – Am I A Racist?

The former Manchester United and Aston Villa boss will travel the UK examining race issues.

He will meet his critics and supporters, including footballers and TV presenters.

Atkinson was forced to resign his job with ITV Sport after his comment was accidentally broadcast in the Middle East.

He lashed out at Desailly after Chelsea lost to Monaco in a Champions League game in April. The 65-year-old pundit believed his remark was off-air.

He later apologised to Desailly for making the remark in “a moment of stupidity” and insisted he was not a racist – citing the number of black players he had introduced while manager of West Bromwich Albion.

Documentary producer Petal Felix said: “Ron will be travelling the country canvassing opinion about the remark he made.

“He will be exploring use of the word ‘nigger’ – who can use it, who can’t use it, and why he used it on that occasion.

“Footballers and TV personalities who have worked with Ron over the years will also have their say.”

The documentary is Atkinson’s first attempt at a career comeback.

Besides losing his job with ITV, he was also dumped as a columnist for a national newspaper in the wake of his comments and has been out of work since.

He is understood to have turned down a recent approach to appear on the next series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.

The documentary, from Welsh independent producer Aspect Television, begins filming next month and is due for broadcast in October.