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Beeb say sorry for Stephen Fry A-bomb quip

Japan rattles katana over nuke survivor gag

The BBC and Talkback Thames have apologised for Stephen Fry's description of double A-bomb survivor Tsutomu Yamaguchi as "the unluckiest man in the world".

The QI presenter - himself described by Julie Burchill as "a stupid person's idea of a clever person" - offended delicate Japanese sensiblities during a December outing of the programme.

Yamaguchi, who died last year aged 93, survived the Hiroshima bombing in August 1945, only to find himself in Nagasaki three days later.

Fry's quip prompted the Japanese embassy to protest to the BBC. According to the Telegraph, a Corporation spokesman offered: "QI never sets out to cause offence with any of the people or subjects it covers.

"However on this occasion, given the sensitivity of the subject matter for Japanese viewers, we understand why they did not feel it appropriate for inclusion in the programme." ®

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