The BBC has said it will not issue an apology for a joke about the Ukraine crisis made by chat show host Graham Norton.
The TV star talked about Prime Minister Boris Johnson's trip to Kyiv in Ukraine on the Friday night hit programme, saying:"This week, he flew off to Ukraine – or if you’re watching on catchup TV, he flew off to southwest Russia."
Some viewers said it made light of the tensions in Ukraine amid fears of a Russian invasion.
In a statement reported by the Daily Mail, the BBC said: "We appreciate the seriousness of the current situation there and can assure you there was no intention to cause any offence with these remarks.
"Comedy is one of the most subjective areas of programming and while no subject is off limits we appreciate that some jokes may resonate differently for those with personal experience of a particular situation."
The BBC was backed by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
Asked if the BBC should apologise for the joke on The Graham Norton Show, Ms Truss told LBC: “I’m a believer in free speech. I don’t necessarily believe that every joke on the BBC is in good taste but I certainly don’t support a censorship state that stops comedians making jokes.”
Radio presenter Tom Swarbrick then asked: “So, you don’t particularly find it funny but you think the BBC are right not to apologise on free speech grounds?”, to which Ms Truss replied “Yes”.
Among those unhappy with the joke was Nataliya Klymko who said on twitter: "What a distatestful, insulting joke... this is in such bad taste... BBC, are you really defending this?"
Peter Chymera tweeted Graham Norton, saying: "Really disappointed with your crass joke on Ukraine. The threat to Ukraine is not funny."
