BBC Radio 1 will air an edited version of the Christmas classic Fairytale of New York to avoid causing offence.
The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl hit has come under fire over the years for the use of derogatory terms for gender and sexuality.
Bosses at the station have moved to replace ‘f****t’ to ‘haggard’, while the word ‘slut’ will be removed completely.
The tweaks mean that the station will not be removing the festive song completely.
BBC Radio 2 will continue to play the original version as it was recorded in 1987.
DJs on 6 Music will be allowed to choose between both versions.
A spokesperson for the BBC said: “We know the song is considered a Christmas classic and we will continue to play it this year, with our radio stations choosing the version of the song most relevant for their audience.”
Pogues singer Shane McGowan defended the use of the word ‘f****t’ when he was asked about the controversy last year.
He told Ireland’s Late Late Show that he did not understand the offence.
“There is no political correctness to it”, he said.
“I’ve been told it’s insulting to gays; I don’t understand how that works. Nobody in the band thinks that’s worth a second thought.
“The word was used by the character because it fitted with the way she would speak and with her character.
“She is not supposed to be a nice person, or even a wholesome person. She is a woman of a certain generation at a certain time in history and she is down on her luck and desperate.”
The duet between McGowan and MacColl is one of the most popular songs played out during the festive period.
It regularly shoots up the music charts at this time of year and currently stands at number 59 in this week’s midweek chart.
