Bi Fujian, China Central Television (CCTV) host [Photo: chazidian.com]

A popular China Central Television (CCTV) host has been suspended after video surfaced of him making improper remarks about Chairman Mao Zedong.

CCTV announced on Wednesday that popular television host Bi Fujian will be suspended from broadcasting and the shows he host halted from airing from April 8 to 11. The state-run broadcaster added that they will investigate the incident.

The video, which was recorded at a private dinner, showed Bi Fujian parodying a song from a Peking opera, in which he made disparaging remarks about Mao Zedong, the founder of the Communist Party of China.

The video has caused heated debate online since it was first posted on Monday.

CCTV has not said what the state-run broadcaster intends to do with Bi or the program's he hosts once the suspension is over.

Bi Fujian, who has been working for CCTV since 1989, is a nationally-recognized television host, namely for the show "Star Boulevard."