Ofcom to investigate 'The Wright Stuff' over murder comment

Media regulator Ofcom is to launch an investigation of an episode of Channel 5's The Wright Stuff over comments made about a teenager's murder which prompted more than 2,000 complaints from viewers.

Wright had to apologise after he appeared to joke about the murder of Liam Aitchison on the Scottish island of Lewis in a newspaper review on the show.

After the papers reported the murder inquiry last week, Wright caused controversy by putting on a Scottish accent and saying "there's been another murder", copying the famous phrase from detective show Taggart.

Also on the Channel 5 show, a guest panellist described the investigation into the murder as "the longest-ever episode of Taggart".

Two men have appeared in court charged with the murder of the 16-year-old, who was found dead in a derelict building in Stornoway on Lewis almost two weeks ago.



Wright sent a letter of apology about his comments to Aitchison's parents, but Ofcom has decided to launch an investigation after receiving around 2,220 complaints from viewers.

Norman Aitchison, the teenager's father, wrote on The Wright Stuff website: "Would your panel members be making a joke of this if it was one of their own children?

"My son's death is no joke and I am disgusted with every single one of you on that panel, let my son rest in peace."

Wright had initially called on those campaigning for people to complain to Ofcom about the incident to "grow up".

But he later insisted that there was "no intention on my part to belittle the seriousness or the tragedy of this story, or to offend anyone who knew Liam".

This marks the latest gaffe by Wright, after he had to apologise in October about a discussion entitled 'Foxy Knoxy - would ya?', which asked viewers if they would go home with Amanda Knox, just days after she was acquitted of murdering Meredith Kercher in Italy.