Complaint
A viewer complained that the f-word had been used by a performer well before the 9pm watershed, and had not been bleeped or muted by the BBC. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines on harm and offence, which say “We must not include the strongest language before the watershed”.
Outcome
The ECU noted that, on this occasion, the programme had been broadcast with a delay in case editing became necessary. A number of instances of offensive language were indeed noticed and edited out, but this had the effect of progressively lessening the delay. At the point when the incident complained of occurred, the programme was going out live or nearly so, leaving no scope for editorial intervention. As the word complained of falls within the category of “the strongest language”, its fully audible occurrence before the watershed (despite being beyond the power of the programme-makers to prevent) represented a breach of the relevant editorial standards. However, a strapline was quickly added apologising to viewers for any offence caused, to which the programme presenter added a further apology a few minutes later. In the ECU’s view this sufficed to resolve the issue of complaint.
Resolved