Philippines seek Enfield apology

Last Modified: 07 Oct 2008
Source: ITN

The Philippines' ambassador in London is demanding a public apology from the BBC over a Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse sketch.

The sketch, which was broadcast as part of the Harry And Paul show on BBC1 on September 26 and repeated on BBC2 on September 29, shows a man urging his neighbour to have sex with a Filipino maid.

Writing to the chairman of the BBC Trust Sir Michael Lyons, Edgardo Espiritu brands the sketch a "malicious and blatant display of racial prejudice".

In a separate letter to the Press Complaints Commission he calls for an investigation into the matter and asks for "remedial measures" to be taken.

The BBC has received 54 viewer complaints over the sketch in the past two days.

"Harry And Paul is a post-watershed comedy sketch series and as such tackles many situations in a comedic way," a spokesman for Tiger Aspect Productions, which makes the show, said.

"Set in this context, the sketch in question is so far beyond the realms of reality as to be absurd - and in no way is intended to demean or upset any viewer."

But the ambassador's letters, dated October 3, says: "Such portrayal and stereotyping of Filipino women as domestic workers and sex playthings is not only egregiously insulting to the Filipino community in the UK, it is also very malicious and is a blatant display of racial prejudice.

"Not only did the show give a bad impression of Filipino women. It also portrayed British employers as perpetrators of exploitation of young women, vulgarity and immoral activities, using their employees, in this case, the domestic worker, as a sex toy."

The ambassador called for a public apology from the BBC for airing the show as well as apologies from the producers and scriptwriters.

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