Radio 1 faces Ofcom probe for Essex girl jokes
BBC Radio 1 is being investigated for airing a string of ‘sexist’ jokes painting Essex girls as promiscuous and stupid.
On the day that it became the BBC’s regulator, Ofcom said it would probe DJ Scott Mills’ show after two viewers complained over derogatory gags aired last month.
The jokes, sent in by listeners and read out on air, included: ‘Why does an Essex girl wear knickers? To keep her ankles warm’, and ‘What does an Essex girl say after her doctor tells her she is pregnant? Is it mine?’.
They were broadcast as Mr Mills and his fellow presenter Chris Stark stayed on air for 24 hours in a marathon show to raise money for Comic Relief. Their effort – dubbed the ‘LOLathon’ – raised £275,000. The pair invited Bobby Norris, a reality TV star from The Only Way Is Essex, to read out the quips on air. Mr Mills told listeners: ‘I’d like to point out, before anyone complains, this is a person from Essex, living in Essex on a show about Essex.’ An Ofcom spokesman said: ‘We’re investigating whether this programme breached our rules on generally accepted standards.’
Other jokes sent in by listeners included: ‘ What’s the difference between an Essex girl and an ironing board? Occasionally you have trouble getting the legs apart on an ironing board.’
BBC Radio 1 said: ‘ No offence was intended by the jokes that were broadcast during Radio 1’s 24 hour Lolathon to raise money for Comic Relief.’
Ofcom became the BBC’s first ever external regulator yesterday, taking over many duties of the now disbanded BBC Trust.
Channel 4 News is also being investigated for naming the wrong man as the Westminster attacker.
The channel falsely claimed hate preacher Trevor Brooks responsible, and anchor Jon Snow issued a correction later in the bulletin.
What’s the first thing an Essex girl does in the morning? Goes home! What does an Essex girl say after her doctor tells her she is pregnant? Is it mine?