Peruvian Earthworms

Peruvian Earthworms are the subject of a recent, yet persistent, joke amongst United Kingdom viewers of the Ceefax-based text system on BBC One's political affairs television programme, Question Time.

The system allows viewers to read on-screen comments displayed through Ceefax page 155, which have been sent in by other viewers of the show via SMS. The system dispays one message at a time, and usually shows several tens of messages throughout each hour-long episode. The system is popular because its editors display both serious and lighthearted comments.

In March 2006, a viewer remarked that one particular episode of the programme was so dull that they were going to 'go back to reading [their] book on Peruvian Earthworms'. Several viewers of that episode sent in further comical remarks about peruvian earthworms, in a topical context.

Since that episode, at least one comment on peruvian earthworms has been displayed on the Ceefax-based service in most episodes. This has made 'peruvian earthworms' an (albeit unlikely) cult topic.

Examples

*23 March 2006"At least Gordon never put VAT on Peruvian earthworms.Daz, Herts" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/4838542.stm] :This referred to the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown who is responsible for setting values of Value Added Tax (VAT).

*20 April 2006"Are the Peruvian earthworms safe from the green chameleon?Jutta, Cheltenham" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/4927710.stm] :This referred to the environmental campaign launched by the UK Leader of the Opposition, David Cameron. Cameron was depicted as a chameleon by the Labour Party because of his slogan "Vote Blue, Go Green" - suggesting that people could improve the environment by voting for his party, the Conservative Party.

*18 May 2006"Are there any illegal Peruvian earthworms working in the Home Office?Dennis, Bloxwich" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/4994760.stm] :This referred to the embarrassing discovery of several illegal immigrants working as cleaners in a building used by the UK Home Office - the office responsible for deporting illegal immigrants.

External links

* [http://www.ceefax.tv/ BBC Ceefax site]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/ BBC Question Time site]