The show's producers said the comment was "clearly tongue in cheek". In the show, guest host William Shatner asked a question about the Olympic torch relay: "What caused confusion in Truro?" Panellist Andy Hamilton responded: "Well, they're Cornish aren't they? They'll always be confused in Truro."
Mr Rogerson, who didn't actually see the show, said: "Of course I like a joke as much as the next person, but on this occasion I can't help but feel that these comments wouldn't be tolerated if they were aimed at the Welsh, Scottish or indeed any other nationality or cultural minority. I feel that it is comments like this which show that the Cornish are discriminated against as a group, and that they should be recognised as a distinct cultural minority."
He added: "This would give protections to make sure the Cornish are not stopped from maintaining and celebrating our distinct identity. I don't want kids in Cornwall to see this kind of thing and and think, 'Is there something about me, maybe I'm not as bright as all the others, maybe I haven't got the chance to be as successful as everybody else.'" BBC Radio Cornwall listener Steve Dawe, 47, from Callington, said: "It was not offensive, it was very funny. People seem to be having a major sense of humour bypass. Everyone was being picked on, MPs, bankers, the Welsh, Scots. The whole programme was having a bash at everyone."
With audio.
