Living it Up featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band from the album Heart and Soul recorded and produced by Ross Gill
The last four blogs have focused on my complaint to the BBC concerning a Celebrity Master Chef episode in which Adam Pearson uttered “Jesus of Nazareth.” As I felt this unacceptable, I complained to the BBC and have been sharing the correspondence that resulted. Last week contained a letter I sent to the final stage of the BBC complaints procedure -the BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU). Below I share their reply.
British Broadcasting Corporation Broadcast Centre, BC2 B4, 201 Wood Lane, London, W12 7TP
Telephone: 020 8743 8000 Email: ecu@bbc.co.uk
Executive Complaints Unit
Mr Ken Shearsmith
Via email
Ref: CAS-7274119
27 September 2022
Dear Mr Shearsmith
Celebrity Masterchef, BBC One, 30 August 2022
Thank you for your email about an edition of Celebrity Masterchef in which a
contributor exclaimed “Jesus of Nazareth”. You say this offended against your Christian
beliefs. The measure according to the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines on Harm and Offence
for judging a complaint such as yours is whether the content in question breached
“generally accepted standards1”.
Ofcom, the BBC’s regulator, has recently published research on public attitudes
towards offensive language on TV and Radio. It notes that “’God’ and ‘Jesus Christ’ were
seen as acceptable on TV and radio by the majority of those taking part in a survey both
before and after the watershed at nine o’clock when this programme was broadcast.
I accept that you found this offensive, but I think, even so, this programme did not
exceed generally accepted standards. Accordingly, I am not upholding your complaint.
There’s no provision for further appeal against this decision within the BBC. However,
you can contact the broadcasting regulator, Ofcom, if you believe your complaint has
identified a breach of the Ofcom Code though of course it would be for Ofcom itself to
decide whether to consider your complaint.
Information about lodging a complaint with Ofcom can be found here.
Yours sincerely
Jeremy Hayes
Complaints Director
Needless to say, I did write to Ofcom and will let you know their response next week in the last instalment of this saga.
Quote of the week
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