Why DID Channel 4 show this obscene quiz? MP's disgust at revolting jokes about the Queen

Channel 4 was under increased pressure last night to explain why it broadcast a quiz featuring obscene jokes about the Queen just minutes after the 9pm watershed.
The Daily Mail told yesterday how viewers were outraged by the antics of drunken comedians on the Big Fat Quiz of 2012, presented by controversial comic Jimmy Carr on Sunday.
TV watchdog Ofcom has already received complaints about the pre-recorded show and the countless vile sexual jokes told by stand-up star Jack Whitehall and actor James Corden.
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Crude: Channel 4 has been further criticised for broadcasting Big Fat Quiz of the Year, which featured guests Richard Ayoade, Russell Howard, Jonathan Ross, Jimmy Carr, Jack Whitehall, James Cordon and Gabby Logan

Anger: Comedian Jack Whitehall and actor James Corden were behind many of the offensive remarks on Channel 4's Big Fat Quiz of the year 2012. The broadcaster is under increasing pressure to explain why it aired the show

They included puerile remarks about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Barack Obama, Usain Bolt and Susan Boyle.
Lord Burns, the chairman of Channel 4, last night refused to comment on the broadcast.

After the Mail attempted to speak to him at his home and over the telephone a member of the Channel 4 press office told us he would not be commenting and asked us to stop contacting him.

Criticism: MP Conor Burns, member of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, said he watched part of the programme and found it 'distasteful'

David Abraham, the chief executive of Channel 4, was also unable to comment because he was on holiday in Vietnam, we were told.
Now Tory MP Conor Burns, a member of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, is demanding to know why the quiz was broadcast as early as 9pm.

He said: ‘I actually watched some of the broadcast because we are staying with family for the holidays and I found it quite distasteful.
'I walked into the other room. Sadly this sort of gauche, vulgar “anything goes humour” that appeals to the lowest common denominator in society is becoming more common.
‘I just wonder, given everything that has been going on in the media over the last six months, what has happened to editorial judgment and reason.
‘It was base, unfunny comedy and in some ways I thought its greater crime really was that it just wasn’t funny.
‘In my role on the committee I will be writing to Channel 4 and asking for its editorial explanation for broadcasting such unpleasant output so soon after the watershed.’
Former Gavin and Stacey star Corden, 34, and Marlborough-educated Whitehall, 24, were seen to get drunk on red wine during the quiz which was shown between 9pm and 10.30pm.
Their infantile behaviour was egged on by Jonathan Ross, 52, who lost his job with the BBC after making an abusive phone call to actor Andrew Sachs during a radio show.

Channel 4 has been accused of failing to learn the lessons from the Sachsgate scandal which was also pre-recorded and cleared before broadcast on the Russell Brand radio show.
Last night the Channel 4 quiz, which attracted an audience of 2.5million, was coming under increased criticism from viewers via the internet and social networking sites such as Twitter.
Cathie Green wrote: ‘No lessons learned from the Brand/Ross event which was on the same gutteral level ...
‘These idiot men are so grossly arrogant, have no sense of respect for others, let alone the people whom they have so sickeningly vilified.’
Patricia Martin wrote: ‘I usually like that quiz but this year we turned over because I was sickened by them being so rude about the Queen and the really bad language.’

Targets: The comics made crude jokes about gold medal sprinter Usain Bolt, left, and singer Susan Boyle, right

Bad taste: Comedian Jack Whitehall made rude comments targeted at the Queen, left, and the recent illness of her husband Prince Philip, right

Halfway through the broadcast Corden could be seen pulling a bottle of red wine from under his desk and pouring himself and Whitehall a drink while eating pizza.
Carr later joked that the pair had drunk a bottle of wine each.
After making a disgusting joke about Susan Boyle, Corden appears to realise he has gone too far saying: ‘This is where I do myself in and forget we’re recording this and it’s going to be broadcast on TV.
‘I just think we are having a great time eating pizza.’
Peter Riley tweeted: ‘Big Fat Quiz Of The Year, basically a reminder of what a sorry state Britain has become, and what a disgraceful year 2012 has been.'