Have I Got News For You bombarded with complaints over Alexander Armstrong’s ‘shameful’ Mount Snowdon joke

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Have I Got News For You has been hit with complaints after viewers took offense over Alexander Armstrong’s mocking of Mount Snowdon/ Yr Wyddfa.

During an episode that aired last month, Alexander revealed that a councilor has put in place a motion for the landmark to only ever be referred to as its Welsh name before ripping into the decision.

‘It’s disgusting these woke lefties meaning we can’t dead name a mountain now,’ joked Joe Lycett. ‘Makes me sick.’

‘Wales’ highest mountain Snowdon may soon only be called by its Welsh name,’ Alexander soon added.

‘I believe the correct pronunciation of the mountain is, I’m going to have a go at it, wish me luck. Snowdon.’

Many viewers were left upset by the joke and voiced their outrage on social media, with some going as far as branding it ‘racist’.

‘So disappointed to see you mock the Welsh language on this week’s show years of oppression from England and you dismiss the language in this way @XanderArmstrong #shame,’ blasted one.

‘Hi, just wondering why you think it’s ok to ridicule the Welsh language? Would you mock speakers of Urdu or Farsi. You’ve got a holiday home here, I’m sure you’ll receive a welcome that reflects your view xenophobic views on Wales, the people and culture,’ another slammed.

The BBC has defended the show and insisted that none of the jokes should be taken seriously.

‘Comedy is of course a very subjective area and it is perhaps inevitable that jokes which are acceptable to some will strike others as distasteful,’ a spokesperson said.

‘We do not set out to cause offence, but we realise comments made about Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa on last Friday’s programme made some of our audience members unhappy.

‘HIGNFY takes a satirical look at the latest news stories, and none of the jokes are intended to be taken seriously.’

Have I Got News For You airs Fridays at 9pm on BBC One.

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