TV channels have been issued with a list of the swearwords that are acceptable before and after the 9pm watershed as the regulator found that UK viewers are generally more tolerant than six years ago about offensive language.
Ofcom, which is responsible for policing taste and decency on the airwaves, found people are “more likely to tolerate swearing on TV and radio provided it reflects ‘real world’ situations and is set in the right context”.
It found that the public has no problem with words such as “arse”, “crap”, “bonk”, “coffin dodger”, “nutter”, “loony” and “Nazi” at any time of day.
However, stronger language such as “pussy”, “fuck”, “motherfucker” and “cunt” is unacceptable before the 9pm watershed with the last two so offensive they are problematic at any time of the day.
Ofcom’s research, the first conducted by the regulator on the subject since 2010, found that by far and away the public took most offence to clear racist and discriminatory language.
“Such words were viewed as derogatory, discriminatory and insulting,” said Ofcom. “Many were concerned about them being used at any time, unless they were particularly justified by the context. Many said that discriminatory and racist words were harder hitting, carrying more emotional impact than ‘general’ swearwords.”
Ofcom said most of those taking part in the research “recognised the importance of the 9pm TV watershed – the point from which broadcasters are able to start showing more adult content – and its role in protecting younger viewers”.
The survey found that people felt that offensive language is generally more problematic on radio than TV, as radio is seen as a more intimate medium often on in the background and easily heard by children without parental control.
“These findings will help us strike a balance between protecting audiences from unjustified offence, especially before the watershed, and allowing broadcasters to reflect the real world,” said Tony Close, director of content standards, licensing and enforcement at Ofcom.
“We set and enforce rules to protect viewers and listeners from potentially harmful and offensive content on TV and radio. To do this, it’s essential that we keep up to date with what people find offensive, and what they expect of broadcasters.”
The survey, which examined 144 words and, for the first time, six “offensive physical gestures”, included focus groups and in depth interviews with 53 people from groups such as ethnic minorities, disabled people, Gypsies and Travellers and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
