Apology over sitcom swearing

Five viewers complained to the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom about the swearing when the show was originally aired at 8.30pm on a Friday.

But two days later, the show was broadcast at 5.10pm with the same language – attracting another 32 complaints.

The BBC admitted that ‘language that had the potential to offend’ was used several times in this programme, but said did not believe it was inappropriate for 8.30pm

However, it confessed that it such language ‘was not suitable for broadcast on a Sunday afternoon when many children would be watching’.

It said that the volume of complaints, both to Ofcom and directly to the BBC, proved it had mad a misjudgement and said sorry for any offence caused, posting the apology on its website.

Ofcom said that it ‘considers that this level of language is generally acknowledged as mild by the majority of adult viewers and was justified by the editorial context of the programme, a light-hearted comedy.’

But it added that the language was too strong for 5.10pm on Sunday.

However, the BBC escaped censure. The watchdog ruled: ‘ Ofcom acknowledges the steps taken by the BBC to ensure that future episodes were suitable for transmission in the 5.10pm slot. In view of the BBC’s acknowledgement of its misjudgement in the scheduling of this broadcast, its swift response and apology on its website and the actions taken, Ofcom considers the matter resolved.’

Published: 26 Mar 2007