London: Members of the BBC London news team faced an internal inquiry after they filmed a spoof video making light of the conflict in the Middle East.
The film, a skit on Peter Kay's (Is This The Way To) Amarillo?, was made to mark the departure of assistant editor Simon Torkington, who is going to Al Jazeera International in Qatar with his wife, former ITV News anchorwoman Shiulie Ghosh.
The joke video was shown at a private leaving party for Torkington nicknamed "Storky" last week. But a copy has been leaked to the Evening Standard by a BBC insider angry that licence fee payers' cash was used to make a "tasteless" skit that could cause offence to Muslims.
After initially describing the film as "ill-judged", the BBC yesterday issued a new statement saying: "The video should never have been made."
The head of BBC London Michael MacFarlane has been asked to launch an inquiry and report back to the BBC's controller of English regions Andy Griffee.
Backdrop
BBC London journalists, including transport correspondent Andrew Winstanley and reporter Sarah Harris, are seen singing a spoof version of the hit song in tea towel headdresses and fake beards, to a video backdrop featuring news footage of missile launchers, tanks and soldiers in gas masks.
Special correspondent Kurt Barling who has reported extensively on the issues facing Britain's Muslim community appears bare-chested and dancing.
The lyrics feature jokes about Osama Bin Laden, the traditional dress and the Palestinian intifada.
Fronting the video in the Peter Kay role is Ian Wade, a member of BBC London management who hit the headlines last summer when he was caught up in the 7/7 bombing.
Evening Standard
