ITV’s Benidorm under fire as more than 100 viewers complain to Ofcom about ‘highly offensive cleft lip joke’
The remark, made by the character Joyce Temple-Savage, has sparked 118 complaints to the media regulator Ofcom
MORE than 100 viewers complained about an episode of Benidorm "containing a highly offensive comment” about people with cleft lip and palate.
Joyce Temple-Savage — played by Sherrie Hewson in the ITV comedy — described a person who appeared to have the condition
as having “the voice of a 13-year-old girl and a face like a dropped pie”.
The remark was made during the last episode of the ninth series of ITV's Benidorm
The remark, made on the final episode of the ninth series on May 3, has sparked 118 complaints to Ofcom.
A charity which supports people affected by the condition branded the comment “ignorant” and said it had “outraged” people.
MOST READ IN TV & SHOWBIZ
TV star Carol Vorderman, whose brother Anton was born with the condition has endorsed an open letter to ITV sent by the Cleft Lip And Palate Association.
The group said it was “almost unbelievable” that the line made it into the final cut of the show and provided their supporters with details of how to complain to Ofcom.
In the scene singer Danny Tetley, playing himself, got up on stage to perform a song, prompting the offending remark from Sherrie’s character Joyce.
Ofcom will assess the complaints before deciding whether to take further action.
An ITV spokesman said: “Danny is a very talented performer and hugely popular on the circuit. We were thrilled to have him on the show.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368