Holmes sets the lawyers on the BBC

Jokes about Eamonn Holmes’s weight have been dropped from a BBC comedy show after the presenter called in the lawyers, it has been reported.

The Sky News anchor is said to have instructed his solicitors to fire off a formal letter of complaint about Jon Culshaw’s depiction of him on The Impressions Show.

The BBC has now apologised ‘for any offence caused’ and the character won’t be making an appearance in the second series of The Impressions Shows, according to the Daily Mail.

Holmes was a recurring feature of the first series, devouring everything from a studio sofa to the entire Chelsea Flower Show with his catchphrase ‘I was fierce hungry, so I was.’

But although he initially took the joke in good spirits – and even appeared on-screen with Culshaw in on ITV1’s This Morning Show – he is believed to have become irritated at the constant repetition.

The Mail quoted a source close to Holmes saying: ‘It was the fact that it wasn’t just one sketch, there were several, and they repeated the same joke over and over again. The BBC has apologised for any offence caused and the character won't be in the new series.’

A BBC spokesman confirmed Holmes had received an apology for any offence caused and said the humour was intended to be 'affectionate'.

Holmes's spokesman said: ‘There have been discussions with the BBC and Eamonn is happy to say the matter has been resolved.’

However one of the sketches is still available on the BBC website – to support a clip in which Culshaw explains how Holmes initially joined in on the joke:

Published: 19 Jul 2010