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Cut the swearing on our screens, says ITV's Grade
Amar Singh3 Nov 2008
THE chief executive of ITV today called for less swearing in British broadcasting in the wake of the BBC phone row.
Sir Michael Grade, who defected from the BBC to ITV in 2006, said the furore caused by the obscene calls made by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand to 78-year-old actor Andrew Sachs should trigger a debate on taste and decency.
Speaking at a lunch with the Broadcasting Press Guild, Sir Michael said British broadcasters had become too casual in allowing swearing. He said: "I think there is a kind of pattern in the prevalence of bad language and the 'F' word is a little unrestrained.
"I don't think we take enough care of the use of the 'F' word and similar words. It used to be you would have to get a very, very senior sign-off to use that word in a show.
"Clearly not enough consideration is given to a very large section of the audience who don't want to hear that word. It seems to be rather indiscriminate now. I think we've let it go a bit and need to show more thoughtfulness over use of these words."
Mr Grade added he would be discussing stricter controls of swearing on ITV with his director of television Peter Fincham. Sir Michael, who described the Brand show in question as "horrible and indefensible on any terms", praised his former employers over their handling of the row. He said: "I have never seen the BBC act so quickly. It shows the system with the BBC Trust works."
Whether Brand or Ross recovered from the furore, he said, depended on the British public.
Sir Michael reiterated that the decision to remove Ross from presenting the British Comedy Awards next month on ITV had been agreed mutually with the star.
Moves by the BBC in the wake of the row to cut some of the high salaries paid to its stars could result in the corporation losing a number of high-profile employees. Director General Mark Thompson has been warned by the body which holds the corporation to account that big pay deals at the BBC fuel public resentment.
The Evening Standard can reveal the BBC Trust told Mr Thompson in July that there was "widespread public concern" about salaries. Nothing happened until last week when the matter gained steam after Ross who is paid £6million a year and Brand became embroiled in controversy.
Details also emerged of how 50 corporation executives were paid more than the Prime Minister, who earns £189,994 a year. Ross, 47, was suspended last week for 12 weeks. A senior BBC source said: "The top brass know they simply cannot afford both financially and in terms of PR to pay out that sort of money to a presenter again. There are going to be a lot of unhappy stars when it comes to contract renegotiations."
Among those on lucrative contracts at the BBC are Graham Norton (£2.5million a year), Jeremy Paxman (£1million a year) and Fiona Bruce (£800,000 a year).
Reader views (42)
why in a cooking program has there to be any swearing. i was going to watch the new Jamie series but the swearing was so bad i just changed channel.
it this how he speeks infront of his children?
i feel it is very sad and sick
- R Ellis, sidmouth devon, 05/11/2008 12:36
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At last the message is getting through.
- Paul Francis, Bournemouth, Dorset, 05/11/2008 07:10
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Swearing is but a sign that the person using the swear words lacks the mental capacity to express themselves clearly!
- Conspiracy Theorist, London, 04/11/2008 12:50
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It is not just the swearing and that is bad enough. It is the lack of aspirational material on TV. If Ross and Brand have to stoop to the level they stooped to to grip an audience...it is an insult and blatently says,
"you are down there and we are getting down to your level."
Not funny! Good and inspiring material cultivates minds while Ross, Brand, Big Brother, wife swap and whatever else locks brain cells into the mire of life, leaving people looking down not up.
- Maria, London, 04/11/2008 11:45
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Thank God that the BBC seem to have cancelled the truly awful and offensive new teen series "Coming of Age", the latest episode of which centred around a teenager cr****ing in her parents-in-law's bed after anal sex...
A good sign that the broom of taste and decency is finally sweeping cleaner...
- R Andrews, Basingstoke, UK, 04/11/2008 04:55
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Sir: It's high time that we stopped using the F word on T.V. It so sad to hear young children in the street and on th trains swearing all the time..What is happening to the way we must live..Too many poeple with too much money on the t.v.Get rid of them..Helen
- Helen Mc Allister, san diego,ca., 04/11/2008 01:52
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This is a bit rich coming from Grade. He started the BBC on its dive into depravity. His pet project (namely, Mark Thompson) has merely catalysed and accelerated the whole process unabated.
The truth is coming home to roost with the Metropolitan Elitist Marxists Bully Boys who run the media. Its time the decent people in this country fought back and subdued their attempts to undermine decent Society with their vile sub-human values.
- Tangomike, Kensington, London, 03/11/2008 23:03
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With reference to the licence fee, I personally would pay double what I pay now if it means no interruptions from those b----- advert's.
- Nick James, London, 03/11/2008 20:23
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The license fee IS a tax - it funds the BBC, which is a public service. Our taxes also fund libraries, hospitals, parks and youth groups among many other things - even if you never use them you still pay for them as you are a member of this country contributing to the good of all (theoretically). The Government may take away the BBC entirely but they will never scrap a tax.
Therefore, the BBC, as a public service, should be providing what we need, not what we want. We need local radio, we need intelligent debate, we need culture to the masses and even need some entertainment on a Saturday night. I'm not sure, however, that we need Jonathan Ross.
- Claire, London, 03/11/2008 19:53
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I agree...
Jamie Oliver's last series was ruined for me by his constant swearing. Does he do this at home in front of his young daughters? I bet he doesn't! Why then does he have to inflict it on us viewers? Who does he think he is...Gordon Ramsey?
- Isobel, Hertfordshire, 03/11/2008 19:45
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At last we are getting somewhere, starting to have a clearout of the trash managment, that we have had to endure at the BBC. They have allowed these so called,"Stars", to belieive they are special people and that us, the General Public, the mugs that pay their wages have no power, well now we have the internet and we are learning how to use it to get what we want for a change!!!!!!!!! They had all better start to be afraid.
- Mary Hathorn, england, 03/11/2008 19:27
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Let these Z list no hopers go and find work in the real world. There is a lot of people who could stand in for them working on local radio.
- Dave Smith, Croydon, 03/11/2008 15:45
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Tell me - What does one have to do to be worth 800k - it is absolutely appalling that they should get so much money and for apparently doing sweet nothing except going on jollies every now and again. Who is the governing authority overseeing expenses - are they being paid these enormous amounts of licence fee money - do they go on jollies and claim for this, that and the other?
- Pam, UK, 03/11/2008 15:27
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Get rid of the licence fee and let all the fat cats at the BBC live in the real world.
- Maggie, London, 03/11/2008 15:23
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Bye then, see you on cable or sky.
- I Staker, London, 03/11/2008 15:19
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"As the X factor proved, there is plenty of talent out there."
Dear, oh Dear!
If the X Factor rejects worm their way into mainstream television, it'll be out to the dustbin with my TV set. Besides which, being able to sing to a half decent standard doesn't mean you can act or present a show.
These talent(less) shows should have the plug pulled on them, in addition to the big salaries.
- Jock, London, 03/11/2008 15:17
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I see the BBC bashers are out in force. Why not abolish the BBC altogether? Well, there goes intelligent speech radio, there goes any coverage of world affairs, there goes cutting edge music radio promoting new acts, there goes major promotion of the arts in prime time (Proms, Electric Proms etc). Try mainstream American radio and TV to for size to see what diversity would be lost.
- Jon B, London, 03/11/2008 14:54
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Time for the BBC to go. Most of these people would earn but a fraction of their current pay out in the open market.
- Trunk, US, 03/11/2008 14:46
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i think its about time mark thompson resigned !!
- Mrs D Service, coseley-west midlands, 03/11/2008 14:43
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Goodbye!
- Trevor Tucker, Norfolk, 03/11/2008 14:39
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It's disgraceful that we should be forced to pay a licence fee. I choose to have Sky TV, and the BBC should be subscription based. Scrap the licence fee now.
- Mandy, UK, 03/11/2008 14:36
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Please define 'stars'.
If you mean we will have less 'camp' supposed humour then thank goodness for that.
If you mean we will have less socialist proaganda then thank goodness for that.
If you mean we will have less Politically Correct programming then thank goodness for that.
If you mean we will have less housing, and 'apparent celebrity' cooking programmes then thank goodness for that.
If you mean the BBC will finally provide entertainment then hallelujah!
- Joe, London, UK, 03/11/2008 14:21
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Yes lets use the sky model pay loads of money a year for repeats and get adverts. Hmmmmmmmm me thinks people are very blinkered when it comes the BBC.
All deregulation did was rob the UK of all its decent television. Would I Claudius get made today?
- Duncan Bailey, Kent, 03/11/2008 14:13
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Top dollar for top talent?? Where does Ross fit into this policy.?
- C Adams, pont l abbé france., 03/11/2008 14:03
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Overpaid "stars" may leave BBC if enormous salaries from public funds are cut...
Well, bye-bye then!
- Dan, london, UK, 03/11/2008 13:56
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Fiona Bruce, 800k a year for reading an auto cue, what a joke.
- Tay, Brixton - England, 03/11/2008 13:54
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Absolutely let them go! Spend the licence fee on programme making and not on a few high profile 'faces' and overpaid 'suits'.
- Deborah, London, 03/11/2008 13:47
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We live in 2008, not 1958 and we do not need a tv license to watch tv, especially with satelite / cable programing. The BBC should be made to fund itself, full stop!
- Brandon Thomas, London UK, 03/11/2008 13:08
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Let's all start burning books and keeping under 18s in doors after 6 at night too!
- Jonny P, London, 03/11/2008 13:06
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This "crisis" will hopefully kick off a broader debate about the ongoing role of the BBC. The BBC is supposed to address "market failings" in the provision of information and entertainment so where is the justification for the bloated website, the multiplicity of TV channels and radio stations, plus all the magazines and books etc. The bulk of this output is in direct competition with commercial operators.
Privatise the parts of the BBC that operate in commercial areas, get the remaining core focussed on fulfilling it's public service remit at a much reduced licence fee!
- Jonathan, Winchester, W Sussex, 03/11/2008 12:54
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Thank goodness for that! I thought they'd never go the tight fisted money grabbers. Whatever happened to integrity and public service? It should be a privelige to work for the Beeb.
- Dhanraj, Basildon, 03/11/2008 12:47
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Oh please, the UK is a small pond and if these "big stars" leave the BBC they are kidding themselves they will get big paydays at the cable channels. Besides how many of them would be happy attracting the smaller viewing audiences - it would hurt their egos as much as their wallets to leave the BBC.
- Pollybelle, Harlow, Essex, 03/11/2008 12:46
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"Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand are not responsible for what goes out on air it's the producers"
Yes but they own the production companies that produce their shows so essentially they are the final arbiter and that is what is so wrong with all of this - they need someone who can distance themselves to have the final say.
- Diana, London, 03/11/2008 12:40
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There is plenty of young talent out there to replace them, so start auditioning, BBC. Unknowns/youngsters will be happy to earn £30k, let alone £6 million a year.
- Suzy, Colchester, 03/11/2008 12:33
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Finally we see what the public wants from a public broadcasting system, quality at a price. The 'cutting edge' comedians who still think shouting bad words and talking about their gentitals on the air, will always have an audience, probably on Channel 4 or cable, so this is not about censorship. If people really still find that funny there are plenty of channels they can watch.
What the fee paying public want from the BBC is what they can not find on most channels today, which is quality drama, dance and arts programmes, news and sport, preferably without political bias, and preferably without overpaid 'stars.' As the X factor proved, there is plenty of talent out there.
Thompson should set a salary level and then audition for the jobs. I am sure he will not be disappointed in what he finds.
- Stephen Rothbart, Prague, Czech Republic, 03/11/2008 12:32
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It's time that the BBC started to serve the people who pay the licence fee (admittedly with some reluctance) rather than "yoof". We want (and are paying for) high standards of language, accuracy, and content.
By the way, why have the police not arrested Brand and Ross? Making obscene 'phone calls is illegal. Perhaps they're too rich or famous to pay for their crime.
- Arthur Norton, Ipswich, England, 03/11/2008 12:21
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They could get to lose most of them with no discernable loss to the viewer. This cult of celebrity has gone on long enough. I mean what about Alan Carr ? who actually thinks the majority of viewers want to watch a mincing queen who looke like he could eat an apple through a letterbox ? Bruce Forsyth - so long in the tooth he could give Alan Carr a run for his money. Jonathon Ross constantly refers to the huge amount he is paid;even has the temerity to put it in his act. Lets have Stephen Fry present everything and the stuff he doesn't want to do share out between the guys from Mock the Week. now that's funny Jonathon and Russell. Watch and learn.
- Squiz, Islington, 03/11/2008 12:03
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Hooray! Clear out the over paid. Shrink the service. Cut all the local radio stations and secondary TV channels and concentrate on quality programming on the core TV and radio channels.
Reduce the tax (sorry licence fee) that we dont want to pay for frills we don't want. If we want to watch repeats and 'marginal' programming we are well catered for in the commercial sector and don't need to pay for it twice.
- Ben, London, W1, 03/11/2008 11:29
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Let them go. Where else are they going to get such generous salaries, pensions etc. Certainly not commercial TV
- Watson, London UK, 03/11/2008 10:41
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Abolish the license fee , we are in a credit crunch and the BBC are wasting millions , give the tax payer a break and cancel the license fee
- Sally Smith, london,united kingdom, 03/11/2008 10:21
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Tragedy: the BBC may have to rely on art and talent to replace the plastic people who "entertain" the masses.
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE ., 03/11/2008 10:13
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Of you go then precious.
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 03/11/2008 10:11
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