Jon Snow: Ofcom investigates 'white people' remark at Brexit rally

Channel 4 News said it regrets any offence caused by the remarks

Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow is being investigated by Ofcom after he said he had "never seen so many white people in one place" at a Brexit rally.

The broadcasting watchdog received 2,644 complaints about his comments on 29 March.

Mr Snow was signing off from the evening bulletin when he made the unscripted remark.

Ofcom will also investigate Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage for his response to Mr Snow.

Mr Snow's remarks came as the news bulletin showed protesters in Westminster on the day the UK was due to leave the EU.

He said: "It's been the most extraordinary day. A day which has seen... I have never seen so many white people in one place, it's an extraordinary story."

Channel 4 said it was a "spontaneous comment" noting that ethnic minorities were under-represented for a London demonstration of this size, and said the channel regretted any offence caused.

In an exchange on LBC radio two days after the protest, Mr Farage was asked to condemn people who attacked journalists and police.

He said: "Well, I think Jon Snow should be attacked without doubt, but that's a slightly separate issue."

Asked to explain, Mr Farage said: "Because of his terrible condescending bias, but that's a separate issue".

He said later in the same programme that he only meant a verbal attack, not a physical one but the remarks prompted five complaints to Ofcom.

An Ofcom spokeswoman said of both incidents: "We're investigating whether comments made by the presenters on these programmes broke our rules on offensive content."