The Scotsman

Watchdog considers Comic Relief probe after 151 complaints

- By SHERNA NOAH newsdesk@scotsman.com

TV watchdog Ofcom is considerin­g whether to launch an investigat­ion into the BBC’S Red Nose Day telethon after the fundraiser sparked more than 150 complaints.

The Comic Relief show was criticised on social media for pre-watershed profanity and sound problems.

Several moments on the show – including when Vic Reeves flashed a fake penis at Susanna Reid before the 9pm watershed and when host russell Brand responded to a technical glitch by saying “f***ing hell” live on air – sparked controvers­y.

Regulator Ofcom said that most of the complaints it received related to content rather than technical issues.

A spokesman 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 the Friday night telethon, on BBC1 and BBC2, included the Love Actually sequel, starring Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley and Colin Firth.

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

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

A skit involving Good Morning Britain star Reid, in which she was jokingly interviewe­d by Reeves and Bob Mortimer in character as The Stotts, drew negative comments after Reeves flashed a fake penis between his legs under a kilt.

“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.

The complaints come in the same year that Comic Relief launched a Swear Jar app – so people can donate money to Comic Relief every time that they use bad language.

Some of the segments were difficult to hear due to the “diabolical” audio. Host Sir Lenny Henry was even forced 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 TV screens.

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

An average of 6.2 million viewers tuned in to watch the programme and it scored a peak of 7.6 million.

 ??  ?? 0 Regulator Ofcom is to investigat­e 151 complaints over Friday’s Comic Relief, including host Russell Brand’s use of the ‘F’ word
0 Regulator Ofcom is to investigat­e 151 complaints over Friday’s Comic Relief, including host Russell Brand’s use of the ‘F’ word

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