BBC in bother over spoof Middle East video
 

BBC in bother over spoof Middle East video

LONDON (AFP) - The BBC has voiced regret over a spoof pop video making light of the conflicts in the Middle East, which was made as a joke by London news staff but leaked to a newspaper.

The film features members of the BBC London team prancing around in tea towel head dresses and fake beards in front of a news footage backdrop of tanks, missile launchers and soldiers in gas masks.

It was only intended to be seen at the leaving party for assistant editor Simon Torkington, who is moving to Qatar-based pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera.

However, one irate BBC insider leaked it to London's Evening Standard newspaper -- leaving those behind the video facing a roasting from BBC bosses.

"Having viewed the video, I believe it should not have been made and was completely ill-judged," said Andy Griffee, the controller of BBC English Regions.

He asked the head of BBC London for some explanations on the circumstances concerning the making of the video.

The sing-along clip is a send-up of one made by British soldiers in
Iraq -- itself a joke version of the video for Tony Christie and Peter Kay's 2005 hit "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo", which featured comedian Kay marching about as various famous faces leapt into frame.

The joke new lyrics begin: "When the day is dawning / On a muggy old Doha morning / How I long to be there / With Osama who's waiting for me there."

They end: "Just beyond the sand dunes / There's a world so new / Oh jilbabs and palm trees / And there's camel p**."

Television crews often make humourous private videos when a staff member leaves, just as newspapers often produce a mock-up front page.

A BBC source told AFP: "These tapes are entirely private, light hearted and don't cost the public anything.

"They would have used their cameras but in their own time.

"We do have a sense of humour here but the BBC thinks that given there were news reporters involved, it was not the best-judged material, even for a leaving do -- although there's nothing of religious offence in it.

"They don't want to be seen as killjoys but it is a sensitive issue.

"The BBC spent the day talking to everyone involved so they can learn their lesson from it."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060911...n_060911170208

LOL - I hadnt seen that - I wonder if he is still going to his job at Al-Jazeera?

Really who gives a monkeys it was a joke we all need to lighten up as a nation.

Yes,like is that realy matter.

I have to admit I would be curious to see it.

Am I the only one that laughs at this stuff? Good God, enough with the PC. Laugh!

If it was made as a private joke.. what's the big deal? The big deal should be giving the guy whom leaked it flat tires everyday for the rest of his life.

In this case I think it is dumb. For one thing, atleast half of the BBC London presenters are of middle eastern descent so it isn't as if it is a racist opperation.

anyone got a link for that?

I think I should se that one as well. :)