Ofcom set to probe Red Nose shambles

THE television watchdog is considering an investigation into this year’s Comic Relief show after the BBC charity telethon generated more than 150 complaints.

Viewers contacted Ofcom to criticise the Red Nose Day fundraiser for the use of swearing and other vulgar content before the 9pm watershed.

The show was heavily criticised on social media with many saying most of the sketches were crude and simply not funny.

Several moments on the show – including when a kilt-wearing Vic Reeves flashed a fake penis at Susanna Reid and when host Russell Brand swore live on air, saying ‘f***ing hell’ during a technical glitch – sparked controversy.

Ofcom said: ‘We have received 151 complaints about Comic Relief 2017 on the BBC. We will assess these complaints before deciding whether or not to investigate.’

Highlights of Friday evening’s telethon, screened on BBC1 and BBC2, included the Love Actually sequel, starring Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Andrew Lincoln, Liam Neeson and Kate Moss.

But viewers complained on Twit- ter about the use of swearwords before the watershed, including during a Mrs Brown’s Boys skit with former JLS star Aston Merrygold.

One said: ‘The worst Red Nose Day I’ve ever watched. Not one funny sketch and two different “comedians” swearing before watershed. Disgusting.’

The sketch involving Good Morning Britain presenter Miss Reid – in which she was interviewed by Reeves and Bob Mortimer, who were in character as The Stotts – drew negative comments after the flashing incident.

‘So Reeves and Mortimer exposing a fake penis to Susanna Reid, talking weird and making her uncomfortable is supposed to be funny?’ a viewer said.

Some segments were hard to hear due to the ‘diabolical’ audio.

Host Sir Lenny Henry even had to ask the studio audience at London’s O2 Arena to be quiet.

Many viewers complained they could barely hear what was happening on their screens.

One wrote on Twitter: ‘The sound on Red Nose Day is dreadful.’ Another added: ‘Considering the O2 is home to hundreds of music events each year, the sound tonight is diabolical.’

A BBC spokesman said: ‘There was a minor technical issue that meant the show was off-air for a minute, but quickly restored.’

The complaints come as Comic Relief this year launched a Swear Jar app – so people can donate money to charity each time that they use bad language.

An average of 6.2million viewers and a peak of 7.6million tuned in to the programme, which has so far raised more than £73million.