By: Scott
Ofcom threatens Radio 1 with regulatory action
Ofcom has upheld a number of complaints relating to items on the Scott Mills show (BBC Radio 1) and the Chris Moyles show (BBC Radio 1) and warned the station that it has concerns about both the number and, in some cases the seriousness of compliance issues relating to the stations output over the past 12 months, particularly in relation to swearing and broadasting inappropriate content. In the two current cases, Ofcom found that a ‘wind-up’ call made by a presenter on the Scott Mills show, which was overly aggressive and contained frequent swearing (bleeped out) broadcast at 4.48 pm, was both unacceptable in its treatment of the female recipient of the call, and unsuitable for broadcast when children would be listening. In relation to the Chris Moyles show, Ofcom found the description by Mr Moyles of women who urinate in the shower as ‘dirty whores’, and his use of the word ‘fucking’ on a separate occasion were both unacceptable and possibly offensive. Ofcom did however accept that in the latter case the presenter had realised his ’slip of the tongue’ and apologise immediately. Ofcom also upheld complaints against TMF relating to the broadcast of an unedited version of the music video ‘Work it’ by Justin Timerlake and Nelly. Ofcom were concerned that this was the third scheduling error by the channel in seven months and their sixth in two years.

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