A presenter on a popular BBC television show has drawn complaints after describing Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip as 'that Greek twit and his Kraut wife'.

TV actress Miranda Hart made the comment on the news comedy show, Have I Got News For You, while discussing recent comments made by Prince Philip about Indian-origin Britons.

At a glamorous reception hosted for Indian achievers last month ahead of the visit to Britain by President Pratibha Patil, the British monarch's husband greeted housing executive Atul Patel by saying: 'There's a lot of your family in tonight.'

Although Patel did not take offence at what he described as a 'light-hearted' comment, Hart - the guest host for the BBC show last Friday - joked: 'There is no place for racism in the modern world and the sooner that Greek twit and his Kraut wife realise it, the better.'

The BBC, which received 50 complaints about the joke, said: 'Have I Got News For You is a topical, satirical news quiz and as such tackles issues of the week in a comedic and challenging way.

'The joke Miranda delivered was about abusive racist language following on from the news story that Prince Philip had made what were considered offensive remarks at a meeting of Indian representatives.'

SEARCH