BBC WM breakfast show host Phil Upton was forced to apologise on air after angry listeners rang to complain when he compared England’s Ashes win to the Second World War.
Cricket fan Mr Upton opened yesterday’s show with a celebration of the 3-1 victory Down Under but soon attracted calls from irate members of his audience.
The DJ also admitted during the show that he had been sent e-mails from upset followers.
“Elizabeth repelled the Spanish Armada, Nelson beat Napoleon at Waterloo, Churchill saw off Hitler and now Andrew Strauss and his men have crushed the Aussies in their own backyard,” he said.
“Is this our finest hour?”
Mr Upton repeated the question at about 7.30am, again at 7.45am and several more times during the show as he urged listeners to ring in.
The first caller to take Mr Upton to task was Derek Campbell, a government advisor on gangs and chairman of Race Equality Sandwell.
Mr Campbell ranted: “How on earth can you compare the success in Australia to the Second World War.
“Come on Phil, get with it.”
The host said he had received e-mails expressing the same sentiment but asked listeners to keep calling on the matter and continued to make the comparison.
He was then involved in a heated discussion with a listener called Terry, from Erdington.
“It’s utterly ridiculous,” said Terry.
