Visit London under pressure over Myra Hindley film

by Jemima Bokaie, Marketing 27-Aug-08, 08:30

LONDON - Visit London is under pressure to name a scapegoat for a gaffe in which an image of murderer Myra Hindley was used as part of a marketing video shown at the London 2012 handover in Beijing. The portrait appeared in promotional footage produced by Visit London, not the London 2012 organisers.

A spokesman for the capital's official visitor organisation refused to speculate on whether any individual would be disciplined, but confirmed that the video, which was condemned by Downing Street and London Mayor Boris Johnson, has now been withdrawn from use.

Marcus Harvey's portrait, shown hanging in a gallery, appeared briefly in a film depicting London's culture which was originally produced by the tourism body to promote the city to the tourism trade.

It was shown on screens at a party attended by Johnson, Gordon Brown, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell and London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe, and seen by TV viewers.