Ofcom ruling Steve Edge swore on Jason Manford’s show

Broadcast watchdog Ofcom have censured Absolute Radio after comic turned actor Steve Edge dropped the F bomb on Jason Manford’s show.

Edge is Manford’s regular sidekick on the show, and let the expletive slip out on the show in January. But even though the show is pre-recorded ahead of its Sunday broadcast, the word was not bleeped out before being aired at 11.30am.

It came in a discussion about listeners’ new year resolutions, with the exchange starting with Manford saying: ‘Dean just says, I’ve got a list Jase: swear more, eat less, be less angry, don’t shout at the kids, buy better quality everything, watch older comedy sitcoms, might do stand-up, look after my car more, stop sitting on the toilet scrolling through Facebook.

‘Swear more?, Edge replied.

Manford: ‘Swear more? That’s a funny one, isn’t it?’

Edge:’ I just feel like, I don’t know, I’m not swearing enough. So, next year, I’m really going to fucking go for it.’

Absolute Radio said the exchange had made it to air by mistake, instead of an edited version they had prepared  – and that Manford ‘expressed his sincere apologies for what happened’ in the following week’s programme.

‘As a father himself, the presenter was upset at any offence caused as this is never the intention,’ the broadcaster added.

The station said it was an ‘isolated incident’ but had nonetheless tightened its procedures to try to ensure such a slip would not happen again.

Ofcom noted the steps taken, but in a ruling published today said that Absolute had breached broadcasting standards on broadcasting the most offensive language  when children are likely to be listening, and without being justified by its contexted.

Stand-up turned actor Edge co-starred with Manford in the BBC One comedy Scarborough and known for his appearances on the likes of  Phoenix Nights, Benidorm, The Reluctant Landlord and Sky comedy Starlings, which he co-wrote.

Published: 13 Jun 2022