Capital FM presenter Ant Payne has apologised after an “insensitive and ill-timed” joke he made on air about Turkey following the devastating earthquake affecting the country.
Payne, who hosts the London drive-time slot on the station, told listeners on Monday that they should look for cheap flights to the country over the next few years, and even book in for some cosmetic work, in the aftermath of the disaster.
He said: “I think now is actually the best time to start looking at some cheap flights away to Turkey, over the next few years.
“Get your teeth done while you are over there. Come back looking 19 years old. You will be on Love Island next year if you are doing that.”
The number of people who have died in the earthquake in southern Turkey has passed 37,000, while work continues to search for any survivors in the rubble.
Payne faced criticism for his comments online, including from Liberal Democrat councillor Suzanne Nuri-Nixon, who accused him of misreading the room.
She tweeted: “Wow @CapitalOfficial, just wow!
“Read the room Ant Payne, thousands have died, thousands are in mourning and you crack a ‘joke’?! Man, did you misread the room!”
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Payne apologised on Tuesday, writing on Twitter: “Hi guys, I want to address the comment I made last night on the show.
“It was insensitive and ill timed. I would never wish to offend anyone from my shows. My sincere and wholehearted apologies.”
Sky News has reached out to Global, the owner of Capital, for further comment.
The presenter joined the station, based in London’s Leicester Square, in January 2011, and before that, hosted on Galaxy FM.
