Host spooks Beeb bosses with Jacko jibes

The BBC has pulled an edition of showbiz programme Liquid News after presenter Iain Lee made potentially libellous comments about Michael Jackson.

Lee, the controversial former host of Channel 4's 11 O'Clock Show, was standing in for regular anchorman Christopher Price on Friday when he made the off-the-cuff remarks about Jackson's private life.

They were broadcast live on BBC Choice at 7pm, but producers decided to pull the repeat planned for later that night in case it led to an expensive libel action.

A BBC spokeswoman told MediaGuardian: "On reflection, some of the remarks in the live show were deemed unsuitable for repeat. These things do happen in live television."

Published: 25 Sep 2001