Reggie Yates has stepped down from Top of the Pops after admitting making “offensive” comments about Jewish music managers.

The presenter, 34, had been signed up to host Christmas Day and New Year specials with Fearne Cotton.

He will no longer appear on the BBC shows after remarking in a podcast that a new generation of singers are “independent, they’re not managed by some random fat Jewish guy from north-west London”.

Yates, in a statement on Twitter, said: “On a recent podcast, during a discussion about grime artists, I made some ill-considered remarks which have hurt many people. I can see clearly that the words I used reinforced offensive stereotypes, and that there is no context that would justify such remarks.

“My comments are no reflection on how I truly feel, and I would like to apologise unreservedly to the Jewish community, people in the music industry and anyone else I have offended.

“This has been, and continues to be a huge learning experience for me, and on reflection I have taken the decision to step down from hosting Top of the Pops this year.”