Big Knobs at the BBC…Senior BBC censors get all offended by the rowing play on words, ‘cox sackers’

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See article [pdf] from downloads.bbc.co.uk

Thinking Allowed BBC Radio 4, 4pm 25 April 2012 The BBC Radio 4 series Thinking Allowed explores the latest research into how society works and discusses current ideas on how we live today. Presenter Laurie Taylor is a former Professor of Sociology at the University of York. The complainant objected to a grossly offensive play on words in this edition of Thinking Allowed. The host, Laurie Taylor, read out an email from an audience member which used the term cox sackers . This referred to an item the previous week of the sacking of a cox from a rowing team. The complainant believed that most listeners would have interpreted this as an offensive term and it was unsuitable to be transmitted in a programme broadcast at 4pm when children may be listening. The complaints was previously dismissed by the programme team and then the BBC Editorial Complaints Unit (ECU), but this decision was appealed to the Editorial Standards Committee (ESC). TheEditorial Standards Committee considered that the phrase cox sackers was intended to be a play-on- words and if the words had been articulated clearly, the phrase would have been within the expectation of the programme’s audience. However, having listened carefully to the pronunciation of the phrase, the Committee believed the phrase was not articulated clearly enough and could easily have been misheard for the offensive word cocksuckers by the majority of the audience. On this point, the Committee agreed with the programme team that the words should have been enunciated rather more clearly and noted their apology to the complainant at Stage 1. Having concluded there was a strong likelihood that the audience would have misheard the phrase, the Committee noted that the word cocksuckers is considered to be a seriously offensive word across all audience groups. On this basis, the Committee considered that in this type of programme, where there would be little expectation of strong language, the pronunciation of cox sackers in this broadcast would exceed generally accepted standards. The Committee believed that the word cocksuckers , due to its offensive nature, was inappropriate within the context of this programme at any time of day. The Committee noted that the particular pronunciation of the phrase cox sackers , which the Committee had concluded was highly likely to have been misheard by a significant part of the audience as cocksuckers , was broadcast at around 4.15pm. Although the Committee took into account that very few children listen to Radio 4, the Committee was concerned that the content was broadcast at a time when a significant number of children are available to listen to the radio and are more likely to be travelling in cars where Radio 4 might be on during the school run . Having regard to the Editorial Guidelines on Harm and Offence, the Committee concluded that the programme was in breach of those Guidelines. The BBC is required to apply generally accepted standards so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from the inclusion of offensive material. As it was highly likely that a significant part of the audience misheard the pronunciation of the phrase cox sackers and believed that a seriously offensive word had been used in its place, the content was in breach of the Guidelines. The Committee wished to apologise for any offence caused by this broadcast. The Committee agreed that it did not expect this segment to be featured in any repeat broadcast of this programme. ‘ Finding: Complaint upheld.

BBC Tells Whingers to Bugger Off…BBC publishes complaints response defending quips about Scottish tramps in Have I Got News For You

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See article from thescottishsun.co.uk See article from bbc.co.uk

The Sun reported: FURIOUS viewers have flooded the BBC with complaints after cockney film star Ray Winstone branded Scots TRAMPS. The comments were part of a section on Scottish independence and sparked around 100 complaints to the BBC/Ofcom whingeing about supposed racism. Guest presenter Winstone quipped: To be fair the Scottish economy has its strengths — its chief exports being oil, whisky, tartan and tramps. He then went on to ask the audience if we should just tell the Scots to bugger off . Dozens stood up and cheered in agreement. Team captain Ian Hislop also joined in the fun suggesting that Mars bars could be the new currency north of the border. The BBC’s Response We’ve received complaints from some viewers who were unhappy with comments made about Scotland during Have I Got News For You on Friday 26th April. Have I Got News For You is a topical and satirical entertainment panel show and as such contains jokes and provocative comment rather than genuine political reporting or debate. The guest host’s material, including the questions and extra jokes he has written, do not reflect the opinions of the BBC, they are jokes concerning the major news stories of the week which are intended to be enjoyed by as great a proportion of the audience as possible. The programme has dealt with many subjects over the last 20 years and we don’t believe the way the subject of Scotland was handled in this edition would have gone against audience expectations for the show.

A Mystery Story…BBC documentary about Jerusalem gets pulled at the last moment

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See article from hurryupharry.org

BBC publicity described the scheduled TV programme Jerusalem: An Archaeological Mystery Story The exile of the Jewish people has played a central role in Christian and Jewish theology for nearly 2,000 years, even being mentioned in Israel’s national anthem and its declaration of independence. But what if the exile never actually happened? This documentary by Ilan Ziv looks at new evidence that suggests the majority of the Jewish people may not have been exiled following the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Travelling from Galilee to Jerusalem and the catacombs of Rome, the film invites us to review and rethink our ideas around the exile, raising important ethical questions about its impact on present-day Middle Eastern issues along the way. But now the programme has been pulled at the last moment with the unconvincing comment that the documentary would not fit editorially . There has been no particular comment as to anything that may have been particularly controversial in the programme, so just down to religion, sensitivity and easy offence.

BBC Gives the Whingers a Good Handbagging…BBC defends Margaret Thatcher comments on Have I Got News For You

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Have I Got News For You, 12 April, 2013 BBC One Complaint We received complaints about this broadcast – some viewers were disappointed by the comments made about the late Lady Thatcher. The BBC’s Response HIGNFY s agenda is set by the biggest news stories of the week. Given the enormous amount of TV and newspaper comment on the life and achievements of Lady Thatcher, it was impossible to ignore the story. HIGNFY’s purpose is to be entertaining as well as satirical and it has a tradition of irreverence and sailing as close to the wind as possible on the subjects it covers. The very fact that the programme covered the death of Lady Thatcher was always going to infuriate some viewers, however they should know what to expect from the show after 23 years. If you look closely at the content of the show you will see that at no point did we make fun of Lady Thatcher herself or put forward a critique of her record — everything was based around the reaction to her death by other politicians and public figures, and the row over the cost of the funeral.

BBC Lacks Courage, Soul and a Brain…BBC descends into one sided propaganda as it refuses to acknowledge the unpopular side of Margaret Thatcher

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The BBC has defended its decision to censor Radio 1′s Official Chart Show. The song championed by opponents of Margaret Thatcher, Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead , will be banned from the customary full broadcast for a song rising in the singles charts.Instead the BBC will give the song a passing mention in a news item supported by a mere 5s clip. BBC Radio 1 controller and censor Ben Cooper claimed the move over the Wizard of Oz film track had been a difficult compromise. Whenever people spout political bollox about ‘balancing rights with…’ one knows that they are taking something away. Cooper is no exception, he spewed that he had to balance ‘respect’ for someone who had just died with issues around freedom of speech. Sales of the song, from the 1939 musical starring Judy Garland, have soared since former Prime Minister Lady Thatcher’s death on Monday, supported by Thatcher’s opponents. The single is set to take the number three spot in Sunday’s countdown, according to the Official Charts Company. Capital FM, which has its own chart show, said the station was currently reviewing the situation . The Conservative chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, John Whittingdale, claimed the BBC’s decision was a sensible compromise. However, the Conservative MP for Reading East, Rob Wilson, said the track should be played in its entirety. He said: I think that Margaret Thatcher would be horrified having helped free millions of people in eastern Europe and been the symbol of freedom around the world that she could in any way have censorship in her own country. The BBC has had a very difficult decision and it’s come up with a very British old-fashioned fudge. Journalist and DJ Paul Gambaccini said that the programme was not a programme of choice . The Top 40 is the news of music, he went on. It’s not something to editorialise about – it’s just fact. You can’t change reality. Comment: And a little good sense from Mediawatch-UK Dan comments in an article from mediasnoops2.wordpress.com The BBC’s earlier report on the fuss surrounding whether or not Radio 1 should play Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead on their chart rundown show featured a rather surprising quote from Our Viv… Vivienne Pattison says: I feel utterly sorry for all the chart shows. It’s put them in a really invidious position. But chart shows exist to play the most bought or downloaded songs, and to change that is to interfere with a democratic process. John Beyer would have probably demanded the BBC ban it completely. Viv’s comments are surprisingly measured. That’s not to say she is saying the BBC should play it but she has more time for democracy than Beyer ever had. Comment: Thatcher Ding Dong! chart campaign is puerile …but the best protest available. The possibility of Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead charting high on Sunday reflects the messy, visceral side of human nature. See article from guardian.co.uk Comment: And as for the Daily Mail…Well… See article from dailymail.co.uk What a sorry, unedifying mess the BBC has got itself into over the hateful campaign by sick Left-wing zealots trying to bounce the song Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead to the top of the music charts. First the Corporation — with its countless overpaid commissars of political correctness — let it be known that, on Sunday’s pop chart show, the song would be played in full. Then, faced with a barrage of complaints from MPs on all sides on the disgrace of giving airtime to a song viciously celebrating the death of a great Prime Minister before she was even buried, a re-think was ordered.

Stroking Cox…The BBC apologises over swearing cox

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See article from bbc.co.uk

The Boat Race BBC One, 31 March 2013 Complaint We received complaints from viewers who were offended by bad language in our live coverage of The Boat Race. The BBC’s response We are very sorry that our live coverage of The Boat Race included two instances of audible swearing from one of the coxes, as we recognise that this offended some viewers. On both occasions, in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines covering live output, our commentators immediately apologised on-air, and we subsequently removed the offending language before making the programme available on BBC iPlayer. BBC Sport take such matters very seriously and, as in previous years, the production team had spoken with both coxes beforehand to emphasise that they should not swear because their voices would be picked up by on-board microphones. We would like to reassure our audiences that we will be looking at ways to ensure we can avoid a repetition of these unfortunate incidents in future years.

Have I Got Complaints for You…BBC dismisses whinges about Ross Noble Elephant Man joke…but…

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See BBC Editorial Appeals Findings [pdf] from downloads.bbc.co.uk See Offending episode of HIGNFY from YouTube

Have I Got News For You? BBC One, 1 June 2012 In a sequence discussing which advertisements had received the most complaints, guest Ross Noble made a comment about actors attending The John Merrick School of Drama and impersonated the speech of John Merrick as portrayed by John Hurt in the film The Elephant Man. The complainant said this made fun of people with disabilities and as such encouraged ridicule and bullying. The Committee concluded: that the programme was not in breach of the Guidelines on Harm and Offence as the remarks were editorially justified because they referred to the actors in the commercial (with reference to the character of John Merrick) and were not intended to stereotype people with this kind of disability. that the programme met generally accepted standards in the context of this comedic exchange. that, notwithstanding its decision not to uphold, the Committee could appreciate that some viewers may have been offended by this segment and it considered that the impersonation of John Merrick’s speech and physical disability, in particular, was at the margins of acceptability. The complaint was not upheld.

Hopefully Not Following the Icelandic Model…BBFC chats about their guidelines and the current public consultation

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Listen to BBFC Podcast 11 The Guidelines

Episode 11 of the podcast looks at how the BBFC keeps its Classification Guidelines in step with public opinion. The episode also touches on Iceland’s proposal to censor internet porn with some trivial banter which seems supportive of the proposed censorship.

Near the Knuckle…BBC considers pre-watershed innuendo in Watson and Oliver

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See Editorial Standards Findings [pdf] from downloads.bbc.co.uk

Watson & Oliver BBC Two, 7 March 2012, 7.30pm Watson & Oliver features two comedians, Lorna Watson and Ingrid Oliver, who perform a live act including shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. This was their first series on television: a comedy sketch show featuring pre-recorded sketches mixed with comedy routines in front of a studio audience. Regular characters, such as the Georgian Ladies and Candy and April, the Playboy Bunnies, are featured. This complaint concerns the third episode. A complainant complained about the sexually explicit language and innuendo . He said that he was watching with his 5-year-old child and was appalled that terms such as slutty, genital frenzy, here’s my jugs etc… were used. He specifically mentioned sketches featuring the Playboy bunnies and James Bond. The BBC’s Head of Comedy explained that Lorna Watson and Ingrid Oliver had established a reputation for unashamedly silly comedy which has broad appeal and which therefore sits well pre-watershed . The Head of Comedy accepted that some of the sketches contained a degree of innuendo but felt they were cheeky and mischievous rather than overtly sexual in tone . He quoted the Daily Telegraph’s review …it has a rare sense of comic mischief that teases but doesn’t offend . Only one other complaint had been received, which he felt indicated that the vast majority of viewers found it acceptable for the timeslot . The complainant was not convinced and the complaint was escalated to the Editorial Standards Committee who considered 3 sketches. This sketch is entitled Absolutely No Sense and Sensibility and features two Georgian ladies pursuing two gentlemen, Sir Thomas and Mr Bridgewater. During the sketch, the two ladies prepare a picnic for the gentlemen and are trying to tempt them to eat. It includes the following dialogue: Oliver: Now, might you be persuaded to a mouthful of my juicy apple dumplings? Watson: Sir Thomas, can I tempt you to a handful of my sweet macaroons? Oliver: Surely you will not say no to a nibble on my almond puffs? Watson: Roly polys, Sir Thomas? Oliver: Fruit jellies? Watson: Peachy fritters? Oliver: Biscuits? Watson: Syllabubs? Oliver: French pancakes. Watson: Fried eggs? Oliver: Jugs. (holds up 2 glass jugs) Watson: Melons? (holds up two melons) Oliver: Tits on a plate? Mr Bridgewater: I beg your pardon? (Oliver holds up a plate with two fake blue tits sitting on it) The second sketch is entitled Living with the Playboy Bunnies in which the two comedians appear dressed in the Playboy bunny outfits. The audience has seen a picture of an old man making a gurning face and when he calls to them off camera to join him, the two playboy bunnies argue about whose turn it is: Oliver/Candy: Well, I did Sexy Saturday Watson/April: I did Slutty Sunday Oliver/Candy: I did Missionary Monday. Watson/April: I did Tantric Tuesday. Oliver/Candy: I did Whipped Cream Wednesday. Watson/April: I did Threesome Thursday! On my own! Oliver/Candy: Well, I’m not doing it. You still owe me for Viagra Valentines The third sketch features a pastiche of the James Bond films. Lorna Watson has received a letter informing her that she is being considered for the part of a Bond Girl. She comments: Watson: Well, I presume they’re looking for someone with the face of a supermodel and a body that screams Hello, I’m sexually dangerous . Ingrid Oliver then asks her the name of the part, she replies: Watson: Jenny Talfrenzy. Oliver: Jenny Talfrenzy? Jenny Tal-, genital frenzy? Watson: I presume she’s Italian. The Committee noted that the series had received 23 complaints in total. For this episode, two people complained about the sexual content at 7.30pm. There were a further six complaints about other episodes, all referring to the Playboy bunny sketch, where viewers found the humour too sexual . The Committee appreciated that the BBC had a long record of using cheeky sexual innuendos with humour and without causing offence in TV and radio comedy. Indeed, many of the BBC’s traditional comedy classics relied on it. The Committee concluded that the sketches would be unlikely to offend an adult audience. The Committee also agreed that the sketches featuring the two Georgian ladies would be unlikely to cause concerns with regard to protecting children. However, the Committee agreed with the complainant that some parts of the other two sketches were questionable for this time of the evening before the watershed in terms of protecting children. In particular, the Committee was concerned with the overall tone of the Playboy bunny sketch which contained sexual jokes and gestures. The Committee also felt that in the James Bond sketch it was debatable if it was appropriate to clearly articulate genital frenzy when referring to the Bond girl’s name as Jenny Talfrenzy The Committee was mindful that, for well-established series at 7.30pm, parents and carers would be able to make a judgement as what was suitable for their children to view. In this case, with a new series, parents could not reasonably be expected to have prior knowledge of the content. The Committee agreed that, in these circumstances, programme-makers should bear in mind that at this time of the evening some younger children may still be watching television. For this reason, the Committee believed that some of the content of this programme was at the margins of acceptability for this time of the evening. The Committee considered that even a slightly later slot of 8pm would have reduced the likelihood of those under 7 years of age watching it. However, the Committee took into consideration that by 7.30 in the evening there is an increasingly adult audience watching television and the audience of younger children is declining. The Committee accepted that this comedy show would be unlikely to appeal to young children and that, in general, the schedule for BBC Two was not aimed at them. The Committee concluded that overall the comic innuendos (which would be beyond the comprehension of the youngest children) did not breach generally accepted standards or the guidelines regarding scheduling and the watershed which are there to protect younger viewers. The Committee concluded that this programme was not in breach of the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines. However, the Committee expected the BBC to take note of its comments

Sent to Taste and Decency Jail…BBC finds episode of Silent Witness to be in breach of guidelines of harm and offence

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See Editorial Standards Findings [pdf] from downloads.bbc.co.uk

Silent Witness BBC One, 22 April 2012, 9pm The complainant objected to a scene of sexual violence at the end of an episode of the BBC One drama serial Silent Witness which he said he had found extremely upsetting and thoroughly nasty . The complainant said that it was inappropriate to show such scenes at this time of the evening, and that the BBC had failed to provide adequate protection for members of the public from the inclusion of offensive and harmful material . The complainant referred to the fact that the preceding programme had overrun, meaning that those turning on to watch News at Ten would have seen the final moments of this episode of Silent Witness. The Committee noted that this was the first episode of a two-part drama in which the team investigate various murders associated with Redhill prison. The team suspect that the prison staff are complicit in illegal drug activities and maybe the murders of various inmates. The final scenes are a flashback to the prison officer Kessler carrying out an assault and this is seen from the point of view of the investigating police officer, Bridges. The audience then realise the extent of the prison officer’s corruption and that Detective Inspector Bridges is complicit as she does not report what she has seen. The Committee concluded: that Silent Witness has an established format as a long-running series on BBC One between 9 and 10pm and the violent content, even though occurring at the end of the episode, was too explicit for this series, on this channel in the first hour after the watershed. that this programme was in breach of the Guidelines on Harm and Offence. The complaint was upheld. And for another opinion, the BBFC rated the first part of the episode titled Redhill to be: 15 uncut for strong threat and crime scene and autopsy images. In fact the second part sounds more challenging with the BBFC rating being: 15 uncut for strong bloody violence and threat.