Channel 5 Ofcom Drum News

Ofcom will investigate comments made by Channel 5 presenter on Lewis murder inquiry

By Hamish Mackay |

December 14, 2011 | 2 min read

Television regulator Ofcom is to launch an investigation into comments made by Channel 5 presenter Matthew Wright on the murder investigation into a teenager’s death on Lewis.

Wright has already apologised on air and in a letter to Liam Aitcheson’s parents about remarks made during a newspaper review on Channel 5's The Wright Stuff.

However, Ofcom, which has received around 2220 complaints on the comments, has decided to go ahead with an investigation into the programme.

Two Lewis men have appeared in court charged with Liam's death.

When the launch of a murder inquiry was reported in newspapers last week, Wright caused controversy when he put on a Scottish accent and said "there's been another murder" - copying a phrase from STV detective show Taggart.

A panelist on the show pointed out that it was the first murder in the Western Isles for 40 years and Wright repeated the Taggart phrase.

Wright later apologised for his comments, saying it had not been his intention to "belittle" the death.

But he added that those campaigning for people to complain to Ofcom should "grow up".

Ofcom will assess the broadcast against rules on generally accepted standards.

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