Complaint
Five viewers complained about the performance of the UK entrant Olly Alexander arguing it was inappropriate for a family show. The ECU considered whether the broadcast met the standards for Harm and Offence set out in the BBC Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The guidelines refer to the idea of content meeting “generally accepted standards” and balancing freedom of expression with avoiding “unjustifiable offence”. In the ECU’s view the sexualised element of the performance was implied, rather than explicit, and such an approach was broadly within audience expectations for Eurovision. The broadcast did not therefore breach “generally accepted standards” for a programme of this kind.
Not Upheld