Sky News business presenter Ian King’s use of the word “fuck” on live TV is to be investigated by the UK media regulator.
Ofcom is to investigate an edition of Ian King Live, which aired on 30 July, to see if it is in breach of the broadcasting code relating to generally accepted standards.
King’s accidental swear came during a live interview with economist Michelle Meyer about interest rates in the USA.
After introducing is guest, King asked her a question about the “tepid” growth rate in the second quarter. Before she has a chance to answer, King, who is off-camera, suddenly shouts “fuck”.
“Ofcom is investigating this programme, which included the most offensive language before the [9pm] watershed,” said a spokesman for the media regulator.
At the end of the interview King apologised to Meyer blaming a microphone lead falling out. He also apologised on Twitter to viewers following the early evening broadcast, posting belatedly at 11.30pm: “Many apologies to anyone who was offended by my Kenneth Tynan moment earlier this evening. Sorry”.
Many apologies to anyone who was offended by my Kenneth Tynan moment earlier this evening. Sorry.
— Ian King (@IanKingSky) July 30, 2015
King was referring to the late theatre critic Kenneth Tynan who was one of the first people to ever utter “fuck” on TV.
The incident, in 1965, resulted in a formal apology by the BBC, four separate House of Commons motions signed by 133 Labour and Tory backbenchers, and a letter to the Queen from morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse.
Just days before King’s faux pas, ITV found itself in hot water when Helen Mirren said in an interview on Good Morning Britain that it “pissed” with rain when she went camping.
In April, daredevil French free climber Alain Robert repeatedly said “fuck” on Good Morning Britain.
Ofcom later criticised stand-in host Piers Morgan for laughing during the incident.
