TV favourite Mr Tumble is greeting toddlers by saying "I'm f******
you" in sign language.
The CBeebies character says the gestures mean "I'm happy to see you".
But angry parents have accused the BBC of jumbling up their signals.
Dad-of-one Jamie Miller, who works for the Royal National Institute
for the Deaf, was stunned when he watched Something Special with
daughter Katie, five.
Jamie, 32, of Northallerton, Yorks, said: "The signs for "happy" and
"f******" are quite similar but it was still an awful error to make.
"Katie, who is learning sign language, asked what the gesture meant. I
didn't know what to tell her." He contacted the BBC five times but Mr
Tumble - presenter Justin Fletcher - still opens every show by making
the same hand-rubbing signal.
The BBC yesterday denied the blunder - saying they use Makaton
signals, which vary from British Sign Language. RNID spokeswoman Kate
Sidwell said: "We advised the BBC that using Makaton would cause
confusion. "Makaton is used more for children with learning
difficulties - it is essentially a different language."
In British Sign Language "happy" is shown by gently brushing the palms
against each other. The swear word is made by brushing the hands
together between the thumb and first finger.
These are coded messages to Sarah Jane aren't they. Justin's ovbiously
desperate to have his wicked way with the lovely contortionist Ms
Honeywell, but can't bring himself to say it to her face...
Why didn't they just use the V sign?
Does this mean they have other signs for shagging, fisting, blowing
etc etc........ ?