The Gavin & Stacey Christmas special received just 11 Ofcom complaints despite social media backlash over the episode airing a homophobic slur.
The show - watched by 12.31m viewers - featured a rendition of Fairytale of New York, with Bryn and Nessa singing the Pogues' Christmas anthem. The song features the homophobic slur, 'f****t, which the BBC chose to air on Christmas Day instead of censoring. The scene drew criticism on social media for including the word.
One viewer tweeted: "Such a shame @JKCorden thinks it’s OK to use homophobic language in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special.
"How are the gay kids sat watching with their family meant to feel as everyone guffaws at 'f****t' being shouted on Christmas Day? You let us down."
Another posted: "Well #GavinandStacey ruined Christmas by allowing every family to sing f****t in the living room. Well done @JKCorden. You absolute mess."
But by December 27 - two days after the show aired - broadcast regulator Ofcom confirmed it had received just 11 complaints.
Ruth Jones, who co-wrote the show and stars as Nessa, defended the decision to include the slur, saying she and co-creator James Corden decided remain "true to the characters".
Ruth told SunOnline: "It is a different climate. But we have to remain true to the characters, to who they were.
"Characters in Gavin & Stacey are kind and big-hearted, I believe. So I think no one is going to be intentionally hurtful.
"But by the same token, they’re not necessarily going to be completely politically correct or be aware of political correctness."
A BBC spokesperson said: "Fairytale of New York is a very popular, much-loved Christmas song played widely throughout the festive season, and the lyrics are well-established with the audience."
