Bill and Ben create political row
(from www.ananova.com - 12 January 2001)
What's the world coming to?
The BBC's new-look Bill And Ben has been accused of poking fun at William Hague.Dozy tortoise Slowcoach is said to sound exactly like the Tory leader.
The tortoise featured in the first episode of the remake of the classic children's TV show.
Slowcoach's voice is done by Fast Show and Cold Feet star John Thompson. He even used typical Conservative language, moaning: "Youngsters only think of themselves."
Viewers have claimed the character's Yorkshire accent is a direct copy of Mr Hague's. Now Liverpool councillor Malcolm Kennedy has complained to the BBC about last week's debut episode - even though he's a Labour Party member.
He said: "Imagine my horror to discover that Slowcoach had turned into a caricature of the Conservative leader. The bald pate and adherence to traditional values could have been coincidence, had it not been for the voice.
"With his flat Yorkshire vowels and grating tone, Slowcoach is a perfect soundalike of Mr Hague.
"I agree that the tortoise is an accurate symbol of the Tory party, slow to react and an outdated fad. But as a father, I feel I must urge the BBC to allow our children the chance to enjoy programmes clear of any political agenda."
A Conservative spokesman told the Daily Star: "It just shows that Bill and Ben have woken up to the fact that they have paid their taxes and not got the plant pots they expected."
A BBC spokeswoman insisted last night: "Slowcoach was not meant to sound like Mr Hague."
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