Pig-skinning Palin is a swine, say Slovaks
LONDON – First it was Borat upsetting the Kazaksthanis. Now globe-trotting television presenter Michael Palin has caused a minor diplomatic incident by supposedly portraying Slovaks as beer-drinking simpletons who slaughter pigs.
The former Monty Python star was officially criticised by the Slovak embassy in London for his coverage in the final episode of his BBC1 series Michael Palin’s New Europe, while residents of Slovakia and visitors have posted complaints on a BBC website.
According to the London Daily Telegraph, Palin is said to have devoted only six minutes of the hour-long programme — which also featured Germany and the Czech Republic — to Slovakia and ignored its cultural landmarks such as the Spis Castle, the largest medieval castle in central Europe.
Instead, he was shown skinning a pig, learning how to make sausages and drinking beer with villagers in the Tatra mountains.
The Slovak embassy said it was “deeply disappointed” by the way the programme represented the eastern European country. “The reflection is totally misrepresented and British people don’t deserve to be misled in this way,” said a spokesman.
A BBC spokesman said: “Michael speaks very warmly of the people and splendour of the country.”
Ian Jarrett
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