Ofcom to probe Catherine Tate Christmas special

[shodan]

Full article here

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3101285.ece



Watchdogs will launch an inquiry into Catherine Tate’s comedy special after complaints by viewers that it was the most offensive programme ever broadcast by the BBC on a Christmas Day.

Viewers complained of excessive use of the “f-word” by Tate’s foul-mouthed character Nan. A sketch depicting a Northern Irish family as terrorists prompted accusations of bigotry.

The sketch show attracted 6.4 million viewers to BBC One at 10:30pm on Christmas night. The BBC defended the show, describing Tate as a comedy genius. But Ofcom said it would examine the programme after receiving complaints about offensive language. The inquiry will ask whether the programme was appropriate for Christmas night, when many children would be watching.

Viewers complained that the programme, which followed the more placid To The Manor Born, began with an avalanche of swearing from Nan Taylor. Kathy Burke, playing her daughter, embarked upon a swearing competition with Nan.

The representation of a family in Northern Ireland receiving Christmas presents attracted complaints that Tate was exploiting lazy stereotypes. The grandmother opens her present to find a balaclava, which she puts over her head. Her husband receives a knuckleduster which he excitedly uses to punch a chair. The mother’s gift is an apron with a balaclava-clad terrorist and the words “Remember Everything, Forgive Nothing”. A gay son is handed a chocolate penis.

One viewer wrote on the BBC online message board: “What had the contents of this to do with Christmas? Crude language just for the sake of it – and being repeated time and time again.” Another commented: “Maybe the lowest point for BBC One on Christmas Day... ever.”

[hagbard_celine]

But I know from talking to black and Asian people that many of them are offended by political correctness; they find it deeply patronizing. There are bound to be elderly people and people in Northern Ireland who think the same. So whatever she does she's going to ofend somebody!:rolleyes:

I personally think she's brilliant and hilarious!

I wonder what Catherine will say about the complaints? Probably:

Am I bovvered?

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/8951/catherinetatekg8.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[shodan]

But I know from talking to black and Asian people that many of them are offended by political correctness; they find it deeply patronizing. There are bound to be elderly people and people in Northern Ireland who think the same. So whatever she does she's going to ofend somebody!:rolleyes:

I personally think she's brilliant and hilarious!

I wonder what Catherine will say about the complaints? Probably:

Am I bovvered?

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/8951/catherinetatekg8.gif (http://imageshack.us)

Yes HC, I had a discussion with my mate along the same lines about this. I was coming from the angle that it was christmas and it couldn't fail to offend large amounts of people in the UK - I believe it was by design maybe by the Common Purpose idiots that have riddled the BBC

Political correctness has reached absurd levels - Ba Ba Blue Sheep and all that. But having a swearing fest, saying 'forgive no one' and passing chocalate dildo's around on Christmas Day, although it does not offend me, I understand that there are large amounts of the population who would be offended, it is a first for christmas day programming, If my grandparents were still alive I know they would be horrified and really upset. Its only one day to keep television clean.
I mean, cosidering we know the satanic tendencies of the PTB, starting to show stuff like this on christmas day is obviously part of their agenda.

at the end of the day everyone is capable of swithcing the TV off or changing channels though, the real problem is the addictive nature of Television and the powerful social engineering that is done through it. Interesting to see that the Catherine Tate show managed to get 'terroism' in as a theme.

'Television, does it imitate us or do we imitate it? Because a child watches 1500 murders before he's 12 years old, and then we wonder why we've created a Jason generation' - Michael Franti

[hagbard_celine]

Yes HC, I had a discussion with my mate along the same lines about this. I was coming from the angle that it was christmas and it couldn't fail to offend large amounts of people in the UK - I believe it was by design maybe by the Common Purpose idiots that have riddled the BBC

Political correctness has reached absurd levels - Ba Ba Blue Sheep and all that. But having a swearing fest, saying 'forgive no one' and passing chocalate dildo's around on Christmas Day, although it does not offend me, I understand that there are large amounts of the population who would be offended, it is a first for christmas day programming, If my grandparents were still alive I know they would be horrified and really upset. Its only one day to keep television clean.
I mean, cosidering we know the satanic tendencies of the PTB, starting to show stuff like this on christmas day is obviously part of their agenda.

at the end of the day everyone is capable of swithcing the TV off or changing channels though, the real problem is the addictive nature of Television and the powerful social engineering that is done through it. Interesting to see that the Catherine Tate show managed to get 'terroism' in as a theme.

'Television, does it imitate us or do we imitate it? Because a child watches 1500 murders before he's 12 years old, and then we wonder why we've created a Jason generation' - Michael Franti

TV comedy has seen a resurgence in sketch shows in recent years. Little Britain is the best, but there are other good ones like Tittybangbang. They are all fairly politically incorrcet and this makes them much more funny I think. I can see why people would object, especially with the way people have suffered from the long war in Norethern Ireland, and I'd hate to see anyone hurt, but at the end of the day Catherine Tate was shown after 9pm and aimed at a mature audience. Maybe a solution would be to put a warning announcement in the intro. It did have one for strong language, but perhaps that wasn't enough. When someone says something offensive in the media to an adult audience then the person who looks stupid at the end of the day is the creator, not the object. I said the same thing on the thread about the Oxford Union debate.

As far as propaganda goes, I'm far more concerned about soap operas like M.K.enders than I am about Catherine Tate.. These have much higher viewing figures than the late night comedies and are seen by a much more impressionable age group.