The BBC has been hit with 100 complaints from radio listeners after a trans radio guest accused author JK Rowling of being transphobic and was not challenged on the statement.

BBC Radio host Evan Davis was chairing a debate over new Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy on Radio 4 when guest Stacey Henley made the claims about the novelist.

Henley, who is the editor of gaming fan site The Gamer, accused JK Rowling of pushing "transphobia" and a "campaign against trans people".

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As a result of listeners' complaints, the BBC has issued a statement to its website addressing the controversy and criticism about the remarks.

The BBC statement read: "We do accept that there wasn't sufficient challenge to the claims that were made and that we fell short here."

On the Thursday Radio 4 programme, host Evan Davis said: "Obviously, JK Rowling… wouldn't say she's transphobic."

However criticism from listeners and from the women’s rights group For Women Scotland was that his comments were "perfunctory" and the interview was "skewed".

The statement continued: "This is a difficult and contentious area which we do try very hard to cover fairly and well on the BBC.

"However we should have challenged Stacey Henley more directly on her claims and apologise that we did not."

Addressing his programme, host Evan Davis said the programme "hadn’t intended it that way".

Speaking to the Express, Women Scotland said: "We are pleased that the BBC has decided to issue an apology, but the damage will have been done by broadcasting this interview.

"We also believe that Evan Davies and the producers must have been aware that this might happen and should have prepared for the eventuality.

"It was completely unacceptable that such defamatory comments were aired unchecked and we trust that a piece of equivalent length will feature on PM in the near future to set the record straight."

Rowling has been very vocal about her views on trans women, with many Harry Potter stars speaking out against her in recent years.

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