Skinner's Pope comments cause offence

ITV has apologised after Frank Skinner caused offence with comments about the last Pope.

But it was not so much what he said that caused a complaint to be lodged with the Ofcom watchdogs – but it’s timing on the day of Pope John Paul’s funeral.

On that day, April 8, ITV2 repeated an old episode of the Frank Skinner Show, which featured an interview with singer Shane MacGowan.

The former Pogues frontman said that his lifestyle meant people had been expecting him to die for the last 25 years.

Skinner replied: ‘It’s like the Pope. Everyone says he’s going to die any minute and he’s still battling on. It’s brilliant…”

A viewer complained that Skinner’s comments were offensive in themselves – and compounded by the programme being repeated on the day of the Pope’s funeral.

ITV apologised unreservedly for having caused offence, saying the programme had been reviewed before repeat – but that process happened before the Pope had died, so the possible impact of the words was missed

The broadcaster said it has since tightened its procedure – which satisfied the Ofcom watchdogs.

In their official ruling, published today, they said: ‘We do not consider that the remarks in themselves were offensive,’ althoutgh they admitted the timing raised ‘different concerns’.

Their conclusion was that ‘in view of the broadcaster’s unreserved apology and remedial action, we consider the matter resolved’.

Published: 18 Jul 2005