An ITV boss has apologised for dressing up as an executioner at Jonathan Ross's Halloween party in the wake of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder.

Asif Zubairy was accused of "appalling taste" when he turned up in a blood-stained costume.

The 57-year-old, who is head of commissioning for comedy and entertainment at ITV, was clutching a severed hand and wore a keffiyeh - a Middle Eastern headscarf - upon arrival at the celebrity party in north London on Wednesday.

On the same evening it was revealed that Mr Khashoggi had been strangled to death as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, with his body being dismembered and disposed of.

Image: Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul

Mr Zubairy has since apologised for his choice of costume, telling the Daily Mail: "I'm a private individual who attended a private party.


"I realise my Halloween costume may have offended some people, for which I apologise."

Image: Guests arrive at a Halloween party hosted by Jonathan Ross at his house in north London

Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the committee on standards in public life, also told the newspaper: "I'm shocked such a senior person showed such appalling taste...

"ITV must be shocked about the damage to their reputation that such a senior person has behaved in such an inappropriate way."

Jamal Khashoggi was strangled and his body dismembered, says city's chief prosecutor.

Saudi Arabia has faced international condemnation over the alleged murder of the writer, who was an outspoken critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

ITV said it was not commenting.