Viewers fume over puffing Des
TV watchdog Ofcom has rejected complaints from viewers about serial killer drama Des – because he was smoking in the hit show.
The three-part ITV show starring David Tennant as murderer Dennis Nilsen prompted 14 people to complain to the broadcasting regulator.
Five viewers complained about excessive chain-smoking by Nilsen and other characters – while only two said that the content was distressing.
Ofcom assessed the complaints after the miniseries was aired last month but have now concluded they do not merit further investigation.
An Ofcom spokeswoman said: “We received 14 complaints about this postwatershed drama but after careful assessment, we concluded that content did not raise issues warranting investigation under our broadcasting rules.”
Nilsen, originally from Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, was jailed at the Old Bailey in 1983 after being convicted of six charges of murder and two of attempted murder.