. —— rowan atkinson.have a smile, you could have a smile, you can also have a smile borisjohnson in his running short. it was offensive, that was the point, and therefore in my view he should apologise. how do you measure that sort of thing though? because a lot of people get offended by things and a lot of other people say lighten up, havea a lot of other people say lighten up, have a sense of humour. it is very important not to be too solemn and rowan atkinson has written this letter to the times in which he speaks up for the freedom to mock religion in general, i think that is right, i think you should be free to mock them. he was regularly playing vicars in various series. life of brian was banned by many watch committees. watch committees, that brings back memories, doesn't it? you had to travel from town to town to go and see life brian, which was taken as to go and see life brian, which was ta ken as offensive to go and see life brian, which was taken as offensive by many devout christian. i think

that was made in the letter by an axe that is known globally as —— and actor globally known, rowan atkinson jokes and the one about a letterbox he thought was a good joke. his point was we have to be able to laugh about religion and thatis able to laugh about religion and that is one of our basic values. he is not a stand—up comedian. that is one of our basic values. he is not a stand—up comedianfi that is one of our basic values. he is not a stand-up comedian. it is a racistjoke. how is not a stand-up comedian. it is a racist joke. how many is not a stand-up comedian. it is a racistjoke. how many was muslim women in this country wearing their hijab? 300 out of 4 million perhaps. why is he using this language? he was supposed to be the head of the british this primacy or he was until a few weeks ago. he is supposed to be diplomatic and no the culture of other people and the culture of the arab world. why is he provoking these kind of things? is he going to be another donald trump for example? is this the right way to be? it is awful to be honest. i will tell you, sean, in islam there is no r

i'll put a point that was made in a letter to the times by an actor that is known globally, rowan atkinsonfor playing mr bean. he said you only have to apologise for a bad joke and the one about a letterbox, he thought, was a good joke. his point was we have to be able to laugh about religion and that is one of our basic values. he is not a stand—up comedian. it is a racistjoke. how many muslim women in this country are wearing their hijab? 300 out of 4 million, perhaps. why is he using this language? he was supposed to be the head of the british diplomacy, or he was until a few weeks ago. he is supposed to be diplomatic and know the culture of other people and the culture of the arab world. why is he provoking these kind of things? is he going to be another donald trump, for example? is this the right way to be? it is awful to be honest. i will tell you, shanu, in islam there is no reference to the niqab, in the middle east the same debate is taking place. but using this language to insult certain people who choose to wear the niqab is not... the problem is the language he used which is r

the actor rowan atkinson has written to the times in support of the former foreign secretary who is nowches of the conservative party code of conduct. joining me now from westminster is our political correspondentjess parker. bring us up to date on who has said what. as you are saying the president and founder of the conservative muslim forum has revealed that he received abusive e—mails following what were quite strong words earlier in the week when he said that the whip should be withdrawn from boris johnson after his comments likening women who wear the burqa two bank robbers. since that comment he says he has received a number of abusive e—mails. this issue five days on from that article continues to divide and cause a lot of discussion. notjust in the wider public but in the conservative party as well. we know they are looking as to whether there should be an investigation into borisjohnson whether he might have breached the code of conduct. that is in its very early state stages at the moment but a number of mps i have spoken to and think that should happen at all. they think the.

rowan atkinson did. he doesn't count.nce, —— a head of the party conference, —— a head of the party conference, when they have nothing else to do, they are always talking about who will be the next leader. they are trying to elbow themselves to the front of the press pack. it is the conference and they get all the attention and they want to say, here is the new pretender for the throne, you know. it is ridiculous. it isjust for the throne, you know. it is ridiculous. it is just them for the throne, you know. it is ridiculous. it isjust them or their aid is talking to journalists and picking themselves up. —— aides. it gets into the papers because there is nothing else to report. ignore red. but not any of the other papers. no. the mera knows what is going on. don't ignore what we are saying. in the express, a shocking rise in child diabetes, a a0% increase —— express. 4096 child diabetes, a a0% increase —— express. 40% increase child diabetes, a a0% increase —— express. 4096 increase in type 2 diabetes it is linked to obe

the blackadder creator rowan atkinson has defended controversial comments made by boris johnson aboutor ridiculing religion, and that it had been a "pretty good joke". however, founder of the conservative muslim forum lord sheikh has said he has recieved scores of islamaphobic messages after calling forjohnson to be sacked. the slovenian—born parents of the us first lady, melania trump, have become us citizens. viktor and amalija knavs took part in a naturalisation ceremony in new york yesterday. the pair are likely to have became citizens under a process — known as chain migration — that has been heavily criticised by the president. 1a years since the sitcom friends ended, its the most popular show for streaming in the uk. figures published by the industry watchdog 0fcom reveal that the us sitcom is the most popular show to stream in the uk — more popular than newer shows such as the crown and stranger things. that's a summary of the latest bbc news — more at 9.30. thanks very much, julian. as we announced earlier, house of fraser has said this morning it is going into administration