Deayton rapped for Jimmy Savile gag

Angus Deayton has been rapped for cracking a ‘pungently personal’ joke about Sir Jimmy Savile.

A viewer complained the joke on the BBC1 panel show Would I Lie To You? went too far – and now the BBC's editorial complaints unit has agreed.

The comments came in a discussion in which guest Claudia Winkleman admitted once writing to Jim'll Fix It to ask to meet Abba – only to be offered a trip to a blue cheese factory instead.

In the show, broadcast in July, Deayton said: ‘Sir Jimmy is quite keen on seeing how blue mouldy bits develop – that's why he stayed with his mum so long after she died.

‘The blue bit in cheese is in fact a living fungus that smells slightly off and serves no useful purpose - much like Sir Jimmy himself nowadays.’

Team captain Lee Mack seemed to take offence at the gag, telling Deayton: ‘I am sorry but that is well out of order.’

The BBC's editorial complaints unit said: ‘The scripted remarks, which focused on Sir Jimmy's age and stories which had been current at the time of his mother's death more than 25 years ago, were out of keeping with the tone of the preceding material and more pungently personal than warranted by his position in the public eye.’

Would I Lie To You? was Deayton’s first major job with the BBC since leaving Have I Got News For You amid tabloid revelations of him taking drugs and visiting prostitutes.

Here is the offending clip, which will not be included in any repeats of the programme following the new ruling:

Published: 5 Nov 2007