Just play the song and leave all this preaching out of it
■ BBC Radio 1 has changed 1987 Christmas classic Fairytale Of New York to avoid offending younger listeners (Metro, Fri).
The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl lyrics ‘you cheap lousy faggot’ have been changed to ‘you’re old and you’re haggard’. Radio 2 will play the original, while Radio 6 presenters can choose.
What gives the BBC the power to tell me what I can see or, in this case, listen to? The song is a well-loved record, enjoyed by millions.
If people don’t like it, turn to another station. What next, tell the woke youth the Nazis weren’t really that bad after all? The BBC are broadcasters so should stick to that and quit the moral preaching.
Steve Clarke, Austerfield
■ Once again people imagine they are being targeted just because certain words are being used in songs.
Where are these people when lyrics by rappers are sung about violence etc, which I don’t like? I just don’t go there. Everybody has a right to free speech so act your age and stop being a wimp.
Joan, via email
■ Following the unequivocal statement from The Pogues that he should ‘f*** off you little herrenvolk s***e’ after complaining that the BBC was deciding what was ‘appropriate for your ignorant little ears’, I feel it is unlikely that loopy Laurence Fox will be sending them a Christmas card this year! I shall be, though! Ho, ho, ho!
Robert Boston, Kent
■ This is a blasted cheek! Does the BBC believe we don’t hear things worse than this on a daily basis?
C Carmel, via text
■ This is a cynical ploy by Radio 1 to increase ailing listening figures among the young.
Pat, Ilford
■ Fairytale Of New York has been around and played by the BBC for 33 years so what’s changed? In reality, nothing. So why change the lyrics because of the few? Come on, BBC, come back to the real world.
Frank, The Real World, Salisbury
■ I feel it is my moral duty to tell everyone to play the original version as often and as loud as possible. Anything else would be akin to chippy chips with no salt and vinegar.
Dec, Essex