https:\/\/risen.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/09-Father-Help-Me-Acknowledge-You-3.m4a<\/a><\/audio>
\nFather Help Me Acknowledge You featuring Lucy Stimpson-Maynard from the album I Look Up To The Heavens recorded and produced by John Hodgkinson<\/p>\nThe last five blogs have focused on my complaint to the BBC concerning a Celebrity Master Chef episode in which Adam Pearson uttered \u201cJesus of Nazareth.\u201d As I felt this unacceptable, I complained to the BBC and have been sharing the correspondence that resulted. Last week contained a letter sent by the BBC\u2019s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU). The final part of this saga was for me to write to Ofcom with a summary of my complaint. Their reply is below:<\/p>\n
Please do not send email to this address as it is an unattended mailbox. You can find out how to contact us on the Ofcom website.
\nThank you for contacting Ofcom.
\nYour views are important to us as they help us to ensure that TV channels, radio stations, and on demand services follow our codes and rules.
\nWhat happens next
\nIf you’ve already complained to the BBC
\nOfcom will not normally write back to you with the outcome of its considerations.
\nHowever, please be assured that if your complaint does raise a potential issue, we will start an investigation. Whether or not we believe an investigation is required, your comments and feedback will be considered, and all our decisions are published in our fortnightly Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin. This includes the latest decisions about the complaints we\u2019ve received.
\nIf you haven’t complained to the BBC first
\nOther than in exceptional circumstances, Ofcom can only consider your complaint if you’ve already complained to the BBC first. You can do this via their website.
\nFor information about how Ofcom assesses complaints and conducts investigations about BBC programmes, please see our website. <\/p>\n
Please see below a summary of your complaint:
\nTitle:
\nMr
\nForename:
\nKenneth
\nSurname:
\nShearsmith
\nProgramme title:
\nCelebrity Master Chef
\nDate you watched, heard, downloaded or streamed programme:
\n30\/08\/2022
\nTime of broadcast (24 hour clock):
\n21:00
\nBBC Channel\/ station\/ website\/ app on which the programme was seen or heard:
\nBBC One
\nSubject:
\nInappropriate use of “Jesus of Nazareth” being used as an expletive in a cookery programme
\nDescription of original complaint:
\nThe original complaint BBC process only allowed me to state my concern that Mr Adam Pearson said “Jesus of Nazareth” on Celebrity Masterchef. A fuller explanation of my concern is given below in reply to their initial response
\nDear Mr Salt
\nThank you for responding to my complaint so promptly.
\nThis is the first time I have lodged a complaint with the BBC, or ITV for that matter – I simply felt a genuine mistake had been made and expected you to accept that there had been an error. I was, therefore disappointed to have instead received what you consider to be justification for retaining Mr Pearson’s “Jesus of Nazareth” expletive.
\nSo, the editing team felt that retaining the expletive was justified because it “reflects the world as it is and you protect freedom of expression.” I am of the strong opinion that in the context of a family cookery programme Mr Pearson\u2019s expletive does not \u201creflect the world as it is.” Furthermore, Mr Pearson\u2019s freedom to express displeasure with his cooking in a manner of his choice, should have been limited to words that were not defamatory to anyone- in this case Jesus.
\nI am confident that despite the BBC’s policy “to protect freedom of expression” an expletive referring to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, would have been immediately removed. Yes, it could be argued that an expletive of this nature would not “reflect the world as it is” as the dire consequences, cite Salman Rushdie, would make such an action most unlikely. However, I put it to you that the BBC policy is applied when it suits the purposes of the BBC; possibly on the occasion in question because it was considered to \u201cmake good TV.\u201d The BBC has, therefore created an \u201cunlevel playing field\u201d in which it can be deemed acceptable to profane Christianity, but not other faiths.
\nI would welcome your response and trust that my comments will be forwarded to Senior members of the \u2018Celebrity MasterChef\u2019 team for their consideration.
\nReason for dissatisfaction with the outcome of the BBC’s final response:
\nThis was the third and final reply from the BBC’s Complaints Director, Mr Jeremy Hayes. <\/p>\n
Thank you for your email about an edition of Celebrity Masterchef in which a
\ncontributor exclaimed \u201cJesus of Nazareth\u201d. You say this offended against your Christian
\nbeliefs. The measure according to the BBC\u2019s Editorial Guidelines on Harm and Offence
\nfor judging a complaint such as yours is whether the content in question breached
\n\u201cgenerally accepted standards1\u201d.
\nOfcom, the BBC\u2019s regulator, has recently published research on public attitudes
\ntowards offensive language on TV and Radio. It notes that \u201c\u2019God\u2019 and \u2018Jesus Christ\u2019 were
\nseen as acceptable on TV and radio by the majority of those taking part in a survey both
\nbefore and after the watershed at nine o\u2019clock when this programme was broadcast.
\nI accept that you found this offensive, but I think, even so, this programme did not
\nexceed generally accepted standards. Accordingly I am not upholding your complaint.
\nThere\u2019s no provision for further appeal against this decision within the BBC. However,
\nyou can contact the broadcasting regulator, Ofcom, if you believe your complaint has
\nidentified a breach of the Ofcom Code though of course it would be for Ofcom itself to
\ndecide whether to consider your complaint <\/p>\n
AS he cites Ofcom as part of the reason why my complaint is not being upheld, I have contacted you. The BBC complaint process did not allow me to continue so I wish to put to you the final point I hoped to make to the BBC which I believe should lead to a change of policy, <\/p>\n
As part of your justification, you state that \u201cGod\u2019 and \u2018Jesus Christ\u2019 are commonly used in place of more offensive swear words. This clearly demonstrates that your policy categorises \u201cJesus Christ\u201d as a replacement swear word. Furthermore, by endorsing its misuse in a \u201ccookery programme\u201d you exacerbate its misuse in everyday speech. <\/p>\n
The exact words used by Mr Pearson were, in fact Jesus of Nazareth.
\nIn her Christmas Broadcast of 2008, Queen Elizabeth 11 demonstrated how these words should be used appropriately as an expression of respect
\n\u201cI hope like me you will be encouraged by the example of Jesus of Nazareth who, often in great adversity, managed to live an unselfish and sacrificial life.\u201d <\/p>\n
Mr Pearson, however, used the term \u201cJesus of Nazareth\u201d inappropriately as an expression of disrespect. Uttering these words in such a manner is most definitely not part of everyday speech and I was especially shocked and offended to hear them on \u201cCelebrity Master Chef.\u201d May I please ask in which BBC programmes have these words previously been used in a similar cursory manner?
\nI would welcome the comments of Mr James Purnell, the BBC\u2019s Head of Religious Affairs Programming on the points I make here and in my previous letter.
\nBBC Reference Number:
\nCAS-7274119
\nDate you submitted your complaint to the BBC:
\n02\/09\/2022
\nSo there we have it \u2013 the final act of the saga \u2013 I do not know what Ofcom will actually do, but at least I feel that I have done my bit to ensure that the Lord\u2019s name is not taken in vain \u2013 at least not in a family tv cookery programme! <\/p>\n
Quote of the week<\/strong>
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