Eamonn Holmes and BBC in obesity row

Added on 20/07/10

Author: James Congdon – Editor

The BBC has been forced to apologise to Eamonn Holmes after the Irish presenter complained about sketches that poked fun at his weight.

Many celebrities have fallen victim to impressionists who specialise in comically mimicking their appearances, as well as their mannerisms.

Television presenter Eamonn Holmes though, has taken a stand against ridicule this week. The This Morning presenter scripted a formal letter to the BBC after sketches on The Impression Show, performed by John Culshaw, went too far in his opinion.

The sketches involved Culshaw, dressed up as Holmes, eating such things as a sofa and a vase of flowers and uttering the catchphrase “I was fierce hungry, so I was”. Mr Holmes contacted his lawyers after seeing the sketches and has contacted the BBC to voice his outrage and has even threatened legal action.

A spokesman for the BBC said that the humour was intended to be “affectionate”, and maintained that such impression shows aim to celebrate the celebrities that they depict.

Mr Culshaw admitted that his impressions can often cause awkward moments between him and his victims. In fact, he revealed what had happened when he appeared on Holmes’ show after the sketches had been shown on television, “we get into the dressing room and there was a card there from Eamonn saying ‘there was going to be a present with this card but I ate it, so I did’”.

The 50 year old has been very open about his weight issues in the past. In an interview last year he suggested that being obese is a lot more difficult for men. The Belfast-born presenter revealed that friends regularly commented on his weight and claimed that people “never expect a man to be offended…Well, I am offended”.

A spokeswoman for Mr Holmes said that he was “happy to say that the matter has been satisfactorily resolved".