Wright made a string of jokes about the killing of Liam Aitchison, 16, on his Channel 5 panel show, The Wright Stuff, sparking a litany of complaints from viewers.
Panellists were discussing the crime, which was the first murder on the Hebridean isle of Lewis for 40 years, during a newspaper review, when wright put on a Scottish accent and said: “There’s been another murder” – the catchphrase of TV cop Jim Taggart.
The presenter, 46, guffawed as Wright’s co-panellist Charlie Baker called it “the longest episode of Taggart of all time”.
The episode triggered a Facebook campaign to have the show reported to Ofcom, which was backed by 2000 people last night.
Liam’s father Norman wrote on the wall: “Would panel members make a joke of this if it was one of their own children? I am disgusted.”
MP Angus MacNeil said Wright’s behaviour was “beyond belief”.
Wright said he did not intend to “belittle the tragedy of this story or offend anyone who knew Liam”.
It is not the first time Wright has landed in hot water.
The gaffe-prone star led a debate about the attractiveness of the woman cleared of the murder of Meredith Kercher, Amanda Knox. Foxy Knoxy: Would Ya? Sparked outrage.