Enfield under fire for Filipina maid sketch

The Philippine community in the UK attacked comedian Harry Enfield today for a sketch in which a man urges his neighbour to "mount" a Filipina maid.

A petition has been launched condemning the BBC show 'Harry And Paul' for the "disgraceful" skit which is "tantamount to racism".

The Philippine government has already protested about the sketch, which was shown on September 26.

And the Philippine embassy in London sent a letter of protest to the BBC, the Secretary of State for Women and the Press Complaints Commission.

During the sketch, a man can be seen urging his lethargic neighbour to have sex with a Filipina maid, who is wriggling provocatively.

He encourages the neighbour to "mount her". And at one point he tells the maid, wearing a grey uniform and apron, to "present your rear".

The petition, attributed to the Philippine Foundation, calls for the "re-education" of the BBC.

It says: "This particular sketch is completely disgraceful, distasteful and a great example of gutter humour."

The petition accuses the BBC and the show of "inciting stereotyped racial discrimination, vulgarity and violation of the maid's human rights".

And it said the sketch was "tantamount to racism and (the) worst sexual abuse and exploitation of the hapless young Filipina domestic worker employee".

The Foundation said the thousands of Filipino domestic workers resident in the UK were "well known to be hard-working, trustworthy and responsible".

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We have not received any formal complaint."

Tiger Aspect Productions, which makes the show, was not immediately available for comment.

Enfield, 47, was crowned Loaded Legend at an awards ceremony last week.

He has reportedly said he was "banned" by his producers from playing a Muslim hoodie and a paedophile Catholic priest in the series.

The petition had received 269 signatures by 10am today, with the figure quickly climbing.

In the Philippines, foreign secretary Alberto Romulo summoned British ambassador Peter Beckingham to discuss the matter.

The British Embassy in Manila was forced to issue a statement saying the BBC has editorial independence and the views expressed and portrayed by the network "are completely independent" from the British government.

It said Filipinos in Britain "are an important part of British society, making invaluable contributions to our scientific and service sectors, and enriching UK culture".