Radio watchdogs slam Gervais

Ricky Gervais has been rapped for using the word 'cock' on his lunchtime radio show.

The Broadcasting Standards Commission have upheld a complaint that the comedian used "coarse sexual innuendo" on London's XFM.

The creator and star of The Office discussed on air whether the word was rude if used when talking about birds - and continued his argument with co-host Stephen Merchant for about five minutes.

Watchdogs ruled: "The commission acknowledged that the presenter's remarks were intended to be humorous, but took the view that the amount and detail of the coarse sexual innuendo had exceeded acceptable boundaries for broadcast."

XFM, a youth-orientated station, said it aimed to include "alternative comedy that would not fit within a more mainstream radio station format".

Its statement to the BSC said: "In this particular show it was not the presenters' intention to shock when they took a humorous look at how the English language could be construed indifferent ways within different contexts."

Published: 29 Mar 2002