Europe News

Swedish TV apologizes to prime minister over premiere water prank

May 23, 2007, 7:43 GMT

Stockholm - Swedish public broadcaster SVT issued a public apology Wednesday to Prime Minsiter Fredrik Reinfeldt, the day after he was subjected to a practical joke at a film premiere.

Reinfeldt was attending the gala premier of Pirates of the Caribbean with his two sons when a reporter hired by one of SVT's production companies sprayed water on him with a fake microphone.

Singers Carola Haggkvist and Markoolio were also subjected to the prank as they entered the cinema in downtown Stockholm.

The footage was to be used for a planned comedy series where personalities were to be subjected to an unpleasant incident and later interviewed about their feelings.

'We deeply apologize,' SVT spokeswoman Helga Baagoe told a morning breakfast show, adding that the footage would not be used.

A spokesman for the premier said it was unlikely he would press charges, but criticized the concept of the programme.