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Broadcasters urged to clamp down on swearing after two outbursts on TV talk shows
By Paul Revoir
Last updated at 7:21 PM on 09th December 2009
Broadcasters are facing calls to clamp down on pre-watershed swearing after two incidents of bad language in a matter of hours of each other.
There are growing concerns from campaigners that TV too many incidents of bad language and inappropriate material are being seen by children before the 9pm cut-off.
On Tuesday audiences were treated to two outbursts of swearing from guests on pre-watershed television talk shows on ITV and BBC1.
Alan Titchmarsh apologised to viewers after art critic Brian Sewell swore on his talk show, which airs at 3pm
A guest of The Alan Titchmarsh Show, which starts at 3pm, art critic Brian Sewell said of Victoria Beckham: ‘She is just a common little bitch.’
Then just a few hours later during The One Show, which starts at 7pm, actress and singer Bette Midler blurted out the word b******s as she was being interviewed.
The Hollywood star was talking about how happy she was to be visiting the UK. She said: ‘This is a kind of fabulous place and I am always happy to come.’
She then added: ‘Oh b*******s’.
There was no immediate apology from presenters Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley. Viewers claimed there was only a ‘very backhanded’ telling off later in the show.
Alan Titchmarsh apologised on his ITV afternoon show for Mr Sewell’s comments shortly after they were made.
Sewell had told the gardening expert: ‘I have great respect for David Beckham but his wife is ghastly’ before launching into the attack.
Titchmarsh’s show has come under fire before over claims of unsuitable content. Last year he was accused of reaching an all time low after he searched for a model’s erogenous zones on the daytime show.
Others also questioned the appropriateness of scenes on Loose Women last year which saw presenter Carol McGiffin do a striptease on the lunchtime show.
Critics yesterday called on TV producers to toughen up guidelines to guests following a string of incidents on live talk shows.
They want programme-makers to make it clearer to talk show guests that swearing is unacceptable for daytime TV audiences.
Vivienne Pattison, director of pressure group Mediawatch UK, said: ‘We know that audiences do not like this kind of language.
‘Obviously in live TV things happen and we know how difficult that is and the presenter has to get out of that very quickly. But I am concerned that it is still happening.
‘I certainly think that it should be made clearer to guests that swearing is not allowed. It is quite extraordinary that they are not allowed to swear on these shows in the States and yet they come over here and do it. It is down to the editors on live TV show to let their guests know that this is the case.’
Conservative MP, Philip Davies, who sits on the culture, media and sport select committee, also expressed concerns about the incidents.
He said: ‘I completely understand the anger of viewers, particularly if they are watching something with their children. It is totally unacceptable.
‘Parents will be rightly angry to be subjected to this when we do have watershed. Maybe the broadcasters can do more.’
Last year Joan Rivers was kicked off ITV’s daytime talkshow Loose Women after she swore live on air and prompted 50 complaints. She stunned the audience by describing actor Russell Crowe as a ‘f****** s****.
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Mr. D, please, what was the word Miss M said?
she said “bollocks” which i didn’t know was a swear word….lol
What a load of b******s.
Kids these days grow up with swearing (unfortunately). I’m not saying that’s right but many parents say worse than what Bette and this guy on Alan Titchmarsh have said. It is a part of everyday language these days and although it is preferable for them to not swear maybe if there wasn’t such a big deal made out of it by pompous eejits making a big deal out of nothing, then the kids wouldn’t swear as much. I’m sorry but kids hear worse in their own homes I’m sure (my little boy isn’t quite 3 yet and he has) despite us being very careful to avoid it, sometimes it just slips out as part of everyday language. The watershed is there for a reason and guests shouldn’t swear, but on the other hand I think this has been blown way out of proportion.
what exactly does it mean?
According to Wikipedia (which we all know may or may not be accurate):
“Bollocks is a word of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning “testicles”. The word is often used figuratively in British English slang, as a noun to mean “nonsense”, an expletive following a minor accident or misfortune, or an adjective to mean “poor quality” or “useless”. Similarly, the common phrases “Bollocks to this!” or “That’s a load of old bollocks” generally indicate contempt for a certain task, subject or opinion. Conversely, the word also figures in idiomatic phrases such as “the dog’s bollocks” and “top bollock(s)”, which usually refer to something which is admired, approved of or well-respected.”
Hmmm…I always thought “bollocks” was another way of saying “bullsh*t”, but now I have a name for my testicles.
lol…..thank you!!!!!!!
People in the UK say “bollocks” all the time. I didn’t know it was frowned upon.
Here in the UK, ‘Bollocks’ is a sort of jovial, funny swearword, hardly a swearword at all. This is just blown out of all proportion – by Mediawatch, who are a hardline, old-fashioned ‘family values’ right wing group who represent themselves and no-one else’s views, and enjoy very much being in the news.
More importantly, Bette has an incredibly high profile over here and is clearly very much loved by people. A tour would be hugely successful. Here’s hoping…
thanks john
Oh, come ON already! That potty mouth put food on the table!
Bollocks? THAT was the big deal?
Puhleeease!
That’s what I thought….I never really thought it was a swear word, but then what do I know….
i couldnt believe it when i heard her say it, but like she explained, she didnt know it was a profanity. lol. good for her, maybe thats what she said to the queen too!!!
aaaah….who gives a shit…
At least she did her research 😉
~J
i think Bette should stick to the motto by which she’s allways lived f*** ’em if they can’t take a joke, and bollocks? seriously? well if Bette said bollocks then she was trying to not get in trouble, she obviously replaced a real swearword with bollocks so that she wouldn’t have to apoligize for it later like she had to on loose women last year when i think she said s**t.