Nowheresville

BBC Weatherman Tomacz Schafernaker had to eat humble pie this week, after a joke backfired. Last Saturday, he was presenting a weather bulletin on BBC News when he said that the Western Isles could expect some rain. He then referred to it as Nowheresville. After 11 complaints to the BBC and one upset MP, Mr Schafernaker apologised unreservedly. He had intended to point at a mountainous area of Scotland, and the 'Nowheresville' was meant to indicate that there would not be many people around to be bothered by it.

The weatherman has since been invited to visit the Western Isles, to sample its culinary, cultural and other delights and to meet its people. Ach, I don't think he meant harm. We all crack jokes at some time that have wider repercussions than you initially think of.