Radio Times forced to apologise after soldier has his private on parade

A Royal Marine has prompted the Radio Times into apologising after he went commando for a photo shoot. The unknown soldier had his penis on parade as he posed with 42 Commando comrades for an article promoting forthcoming Channel 5 documentary Royal Marines: Mission Afghanistan.

The article was printed before the marine's prank was spotted, with RT staff only realising the over-exposure in this week's edition when a reader tipped them off. The reader wrote: 'I know that British soldiers serving in Afghanistan are well equipped, but seeing the roll call of Royal Marines gives the expression a whole new meaning.'


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The magazine quickly published an apology on its website, publishing a censored version of the photograph with a red x over the area in question. 'We apologise for any upset caused to readers by the rogue member of 42 Commando,' said editor Ben Preston.

A spokeswoman for the Radio Times added: 'The unnamed marine is, like the rest of his unit, posing for the photograph dressed only in shorts. What we took to be the marine's finger proved, on closer inspection, to be another part of his anatomy.' A naval spokesman said: 'We apologise for any offence caused by this private photograph that was not intended for publication.'