Philippines government raises stink over BBC's 'disgraceful' Harry Enfield maid sketch

London, Oct.8 (ANI): The Philippines Government and the Filipino community have strongly condemned a comedy skit appearing on BBC where a man urges his neighbour to "mount" a Filipina maid.

An online petition described the skit appearing on the BBC show Harry and Paul as "disgraceful", "distasteful" and "tantamount to racism".

The petition attracted hundreds of signatures yesterday and calls were growing last night for the BBC to apologize, according to The Scotsman.

The sketch was aired on September 26. The Philippines embassy in London has sent a letter of protest to the BBC, the Secretary of State for Women and the Press Complaints Commission.

The plight of millions of Filipinos working overseas is a sensitive issue for the Philippines, whose economy is kept afloat by the billions they send home from abroad.

During the sketch, a man urges his lethargic neighbour to have sex with a Filipina maid, who is wriggling provocatively. He encourages the neighbour to "mount her", telling the maid, wearing a gray uniform and apron, to "present your rear".

The petition, attributed to the Philippine Foundation, calls for the "re-education" of the BBC. There are also plans for a silent protest vigil at the BBC building at White City in London.

Other Filipinos in the UK said the BBC comedy scene was worse than the script of an episode of the American TV series Desperate Housewives, which questioned the ability of Filipino medical graduates.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We have not received any formal complaint."

A spokesman for Tiger Aspect Productions, which makes the show, said it had not meant to cause offence. (ANI)

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