Engelbert gets in a Hump-erdinck over BBC ambush as he's asked about Azerbaijan's human rights record ahead of Eurovision Song Contest
- Crooner was asked why he was taking part in the competition and for his views on human rights in Azerbaijan
- Panorama journalist also presented him with T-shirt emblazoned with 'Please Release Them'
- Scene will be show in tonight's programme
By AMY OLIVER
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The crooner, who hopes to lead Britain to victory next weekend in the competition screened by the BBC, was furious after being confronted about host nation Azerbaijan's human rights record.
Mr Humperdinck, 76, was approached by Panorama's Paul Kenyon after an interview with Radio 2 in a BBC recording studio.
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'Ambushed': Eurovision hopeful Engelbert Humperdinck was said to be incensed after being cornered by the BBC's Panorama over host nation Azerbijan
He was asked why he was taking part in the competition and what his views on human rights in the country.
Mr Kenyon then presented him with a T-shirt that bore the slogan: 'Please Release Them', a play on Mr Humperdinck's well known hit Please Release Me and political prisoners held in the Soviet state.
The singer, who will belt out Love Will Set You Free during the competition next weekend, stayed calm and smiled. But he and his entourage were said to be incensed by the incident.
In an email to Mr Kenyon seen by the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Humperdinck's agent Chris Hewlett said: 'I wanted to make very clear how surprised and disappointed we all were that Panorama felt it appropriate to ambush Engelbert on BBC property in order to force a reaction from him, without even giving him the courtesy of time to frame his thoughts.
Controversy: An undercover journalist found that blocks of flats, knocked down to make room for the Baku Crystal Hall where the event will take place, still had residents inside when the bulldozers rumbled in
'Mafia state': President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is said to run a 'mafia state' in which journalists who go against the regime will be jailed or blackmailed
'Eurovision is a BBC show, and he was invited by the BBC to participate, and we feel that these actions by another BBC team were at best ill-judged.'
A Panorama spokesman said: 'We’re satisfied that we’ve acted fairly and followed our editorial guidelines.'
The scene will be shown in tonight's 'Eurovision’s Dirty Secret' episode despite pleas from inside the BBC to cut it out.
Poor old Engel: Mr Humperdinck, who will sing Love Will Set You Free in the competition on Saturday is best known for his hits Release Me and The Last Waltz
Sneak preview: Mr Humperdinck was spotted with a couple of flamboyant dancers during a rehearsal for the Eurovision Song Contest
Mr Kenyon went undercover in Azerbaijan to uncover the corruption surrounding the singing contest in the Soviet state.
The programme tells of residents who were held and questioned after last year's show simply for voting for neighbouring country - and bitter rival - Armenia.
Mr Kenyon also found that blocks of flats, knocked down to make room for the impressive 20,000-seat Baku Crystal Hall where the event takes place, still had residents inside when the bulldozers rumbled in.
President Ilham Aliyev is said to run a 'mafia state' in which journalists who go against the regime will be jailed or blackmailed.
Now watch Engelbert Humperdinck sing Love Will Set You Free
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