Dave rapped for not disguising swear word

The Dave channel has been rapped for broadcasting an edition of QI without properly bleeping the word ‘fuck’.

Regulators at Ofcom received a single complaint that the swear word could clearly be made out in an episode of the show aired at 2pm on February 22.

In one exchange, host Stephen Fry could be heard saying, ‘Oh fuck off,’ and, in another panellist Jeremy Clarkson said: ‘No he fucking isn’t.’

Although originally aired on the BBC after the watershed, the viewer who complained said this language was inappropriate for the time of day the rerun was aired.

The broadcaster had tried to obscure these words, but the watchdog said: ‘Both words clearly began with an “F…” and an unmistakable “…ck” and “…cking” followed after the bleep. This would have left viewers in no doubt in Ofcom’s view that “fuck” and “fucking” had been used.’

Dave bosses blamed human error for the ‘unacceptable’ broadcast, but said the offence would have been ‘minimal’ as the channel is aimed at an adult audience.

However, Ofcom today ruled: ‘Human error does not justify the broadcast of the most offensive language before the watershed and we are therefore recording a breach of the [Broadcasting] Code.’

Published: 9 May 2011