The BBC has apologised after a radio presenter said the Queen had died.
Danny Kelly who works for BBC WM in the West Midlands, played the national anthem as he made the joke during his Birmingham-based afternoon show.
A BBC spokesman said it had been a reference to an item on one of his internet pages.
It was corrected on-air immediately and described as "entirely inappropriate" by a BBC spokesman who said the corporation apologised "unreservedly".
The spokesman added: "Although made as part of a light-hearted piece about social media friends, and corrected on-air immediately after it was made, the comment was entirely inappropriate and the BBC apologises unreservedly for it.
"There was no intention to offend.
"BBC WM takes this comment very seriously. Action is being taken."
The spokesman could not comment on what action had been taken following Mr Kelly’s comments and it is not yet known if he will present his afternoon show on Tuesday.
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