BBC in bother over spoof Middle East video

Mon Sep 11, 1:59 PM ET

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."

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Making that video was stupid and insensitive. Who knows how many people that were in that room or surrounding areas have relatives or friends over there? Those who stood in front of the camera must have had a lot trust that this video wasn't going anywhere. Making light of such a serious and hot topic should not be done with news casters and cameras.

Here's a link to the video: Linky

If you watch it... You'll see that they weren't being serious and were just having a bit of fun. God forbid.

lol, I don't see how it was that offensive.

also, why is "poo" censored?

people need to stop taking life so seriuosly, and the people who anonomously leaked the video piss me off too. The world is soon to be governed by gutless weasels. If you have a problem with stuff like that tell the specific people yourself, have some nuts about it. Don't go behind their back and try and get them fired. Its just a joke grow up or get thicker skin. This PC crap is getting ridiculous. Governing how people talk was done before, by the Nazis, and we all know what a wonderful grpup they were.

People for whatever god's sake, GET A SENSE OF HUMOR. Sheesh.

Lmao, the video is funny, but than the fact that people took it seriously is hilarious.

I actually thought it was a very well made documentary.

I see no joke in this, it was a very accurate portrayal.

Humor is relative it appears.

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Angling for laughs at the recent Emmy Awards, host Conan O'Brien noted that some big-screen actors had been seduced by television: "Alec Baldwin has a new show on NBC. James Woods has a new show on CBS," he said. "And Mel Gibson has a new show on al Jazeera."

The Hollywood crowd roared at the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that Gibson, who'd just unleashed an anti-Semitic rant during his arrest for drunk driving, might have a deal with the Arab network that is seen by many Americans as Osama bin Laden's favorite news outlet.

But they weren't laughing in the Qatar-based network's well-staffed Washington bureau, which is part of an effort to launch a global English-language sibling to the all-Arabic news channel.
source

I found the video to be funny. It's not really offensive unless your really sensitive.

Jesus get a sense of humour they cost nothing and can be found in shops in over world just ask the checkout assistant

that sheep has only seen the fence in which it keeps it in.

I think the funny aspect is they got a good grilling by the BBC Bosses,

Those who live by the PC sword, die by it.

Jesus how old are these guys? Acting Like 1st yr 'wacky students'tm

This trype of comedy was being used even during ww1 in the form of comic strips. Its a great way of maintaining balance with all the bad stuff going on. The fact that video is now being used instead is irrelivent. Its important for people to make light of bad situations sometimes.

As with every type of comedy, and every joke, someone will always be offended. I challenge anyone to give us a joke that doesnt offend even the smallest minority.