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X-Rated: The TV They Tried to Ban

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156:, citing unfair treatment and a failure to fully explain the format of the programme to her. While Ofcom suspected that "there may have been a lack of frankness on the programme makers' part regarding the general tone", it concluded that her views had not been misrepresented, and did not uphold the complaint. 388:
as increasing casual racism, because it introduced viewers to anti-black (and anti-white) insults they hadn't even heard before. The BBC official whose job is to discourage 'offensive' words is interviewed, and is seen with the list of words that were once seen as the least-desirable for broadcast
408:, that contained quickly changing clips of presenters and personalities from Channel 4 shows all talking about a particular subject, this advert was on the theme of "favourite swear words", and obviously contains explicit language. 847:
would have been in first place, had viewers complained after watching it. In the end, the BBC received approximately 50,000 complaints before screening the controversial opera, mainly from Christians unhappy with
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One observer called the documentary a "back-slapping orgy", reflecting Channel 4's possible tendency to overstate its own importance or bravery in showing 'daring' material on television.
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received only one complaint for "Offence" caused by the documentary, and did not uphold it because the programme contained sufficient warnings (before it began, at the end of each
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This programme presented the 20 most controversial British television programmes, judged on how many official complaints they received at the time.
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and exaggerating Channel 4's role). It implied that 'Complainers' should not be so shocked by television programmes and should choose not to watch.
621: 664:(broadcast on Channel 4 in the same month) revealed a different top three because it used a different system. Here, the top three was named as: 987: 462:–87), is described here by David Quantick as "Like having a little pervert sat in your front room", because of what he claims was often 911: 739:
is also suggested as a pointer of television's possible future direction, and the interviewees suggest (not totally seriously) that
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The documentary concludes by asking "Where can controversial TV go next?". More recent controversial programmes are shown, such as
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actors says he was unhappy with the decision to cut his scene, simply because choosing to film it was a difficult decision for a
420:", the documentary claims, no sexually explicit material was allowed on the UK's three TV channels, although in the 1970s some 241:" - a song originally by the Sex Pistols. Its publishers, however, prevented Ryder's version of the song from being used in 59:
content and disturbing images on television. The documentary itself could have become notable as an explicit programme, but
930: 433: 472:(broadcast 30 November 1986), which contained a sex scene, attracted more complaints, as did a 6pm episode of Channel 4's 237:
charter forbidding him from appearing live on the channel. Ryder, in fact, swore 14 times during his live performance of "
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Finally in part 1, a previously unbroadcast advertisement for Channel 4 is seen. Part of a series of adverts, made in
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screen in the background of an interview with Jarman). These are officially not allowed on British television, but
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in the early 1990s, and how some broadcasters tried to put this youth culture on TV, in such shows as Channel 4's
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content in the films. (In reality, few of the Red Triangle films were titillating.) An episode of the BBC drama
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compelled it to 'push boundaries' and show programmes for groups not catered-for by the 'mainstream' channels.
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in a segment called "Reclaiming 'Cunt'". This received three complaints and was not even noticed by presenters
284:(the protester was immediately criticised as immature by Frost). We then see the almost-unnoticed incident, on 751:
to be the first to suffer this fate (although forgets Huntley's name), while another suggests, "let's have
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on the subject, and broadcasts the scene again, with an explicit warning immediately before showing it.
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in 2004, which was criticised by some, but welcomed by others who appreciated the insight into how the
646:' segment. The 'Complainers' suggest that people could have demonstrated their talents by performing a 459: 312:
frenzy ensured that Caprice was "kicked off the show". The documentary then shows a single frame from
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Other controversial broadcasts that are examined in this part of the documentary include Channel 4's
141: 78:, media commentators, programme-makers and the critics of explicit broadcasts. Interviewees included 207:, and damaged Grundy's career while launching the band's. The documentary then shows clips from the 455: 286: 64: 839:
The reason for this discrepancy was presumably that this documentary only counted complaints made
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the words "Grade Is A Cunt" onto the screen, to protest against the then-Channel 4 commissioner
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as "marvellous" and "a moving drama about the love that can exist between two women", although
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by saying "All I was doing was making fun of the English language, not the foreigners".
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One of the 'Complainers', unhappy with her portrayal in the documentary, complained to
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obviously realises that contradiction, in joking that it had "nothing to do with the
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The second part talks about the portrayal of sex on television in Britain. In the "
121: 26: 777:, which filmed a fake hanging from the 1960s; this is the end of the documentary. 635: 934: 915: 421: 342: 291: 230: 203:, which included swearing rarely before heard on television, least of all during 180: 133: 107: 83: 68: 927: 756: 626:. These late-night series were reflected by rude moments, and concentrating on 545:, a fact totally unmentioned in this documentary. Interviewed here, one of the 474: 381: 365: 99: 91: 249: 976: 773: 587: 522: 492: 334: 253: 238: 222: 103: 448: 849: 611: 569: 565: 550: 373: 301: 269: 120:; it was intended as entertainment rather than a solemn debate (containing 95: 639: 261: 748: 744: 660:
then unveils the supposed "top three most offensive British TV moments".
607: 583: 491:", is the introduction to the documentary's examination of depictions of 463: 444: 330: 277: 218: 192: 188: 125: 79: 961: 887: 858:
s appearance in first place might also have detracted from the theme of
252:" has become on British television, by pointing out that celebrity chef 176:
examines use of offensive language on British television, including the
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talents, making for more bizarre entertainment than before; indeed,
627: 117: 661: 41:, and was approximately 90 minutes long. The show was produced by 946: 810: 724: 690: 674: 526: 780: 789: 736: 732: 651: 425: 369: 313: 862:, as that documentary was about offensive programmes, whereas 443:
created Channel 4, actually unleashed "a tide of filth" and '
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of a scene involving a fictional musical about serial killer
153: 60: 867: 768: 647: 538: 264:", on the other hand, remains a highly objectionable word: 229:" on the live early-evening show. This caused it to become 226: 245:, and an on-screen message here calls them "Spoilsports". 889:
X-Rated: The TV They Tried to Ban (TV Movie 2005) - IMDb
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shows its first televised use, by a protester (actually
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said "fuck" 84 times in a single episode of documentary
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broadcast by viewers - as Bronx Bunny points out here,
447:' content onto British TV screens, because Channel 4's 735:) works. A Channel 4 documentary about a man who eats 499:
in tabloids complaining about gay male characters in
759:". (The programme was made before the high-profile 233:, and Shaun Ryder's name to be put on the official 37:, at 10pm on Sunday 6 March 2005, as part of their 606:This part of the documentary examined the rise of 800:; Its top four "most offensive" programmes were: 993:Censorship of broadcasting in the United Kingdom 974: 763:, which bears some resemblance to these ideas.) 487:, that the programme's makers freely admit was " 866:only received complaints because it scared or ' 788:First shown in March 2005, and presented by E4 909:Ofcom: Ofcom broadcast bulletin 32, April 2005 564:in the United States, and a documentary about 529:!". A censored gay sex scene between two male 368:" but are embarrassing today because of their 781:X-Rated: Top 20 Most Controversial TV Moments 662:X-Rated: Top 20 Most Controversial TV Moments 796:, its conclusion was different from that of 348:Continuing the theme of offensive language, 642:an elderly woman during "The Hopefuls", a ' 582:documentary contained a scene including an 586:(supposedly accidentally, as it was on a 248:The documentary shows how accepted the " 136:; the theme tune to the documentary was 352:claims that 1970s British sitcoms like 975: 537:– in fact, it had already appeared on 481:An unusually suggestive sex scene in 988:British documentary television films 495:sex on British TV, and the possible 294:mentioned that she was appearing in 29:examining controversial material on 13: 376:, creator of both series, defends 116:was light-hearted in its tone and 14: 1009: 963:X-Rated: The TV They Tried to Ban 955: 928:Ofcom: Issue number 57 – 03|04|06 18:X-Rated: The TV They Tried to Ban 74:It contained contributions from 823:(BBC Two, 2005) — approx. 1,000 983:Channel 4 original programming 940: 921: 902: 880: 638:incident involved a young man 428:. The documentary claims that 424:shown late at night contained 1: 873: 322:, that caused controversy in 543:Footballers' Wives Uncovered 172:The first half-hour part of 147: 33:. It was first broadcast on 7: 947:Need to Know - 4 March 2005 761:execution of Saddam Hussein 258:Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares 162: 10: 1014: 436:, shortly after which the 290:on 16 February 2002, when 937:, retrieved 25 March 2007 918:, retrieved 25 March 2007 845:Jerry Springer: The Opera 821:Jerry Springer: The Opera 714: 686:Jerry Springer: The Opera 623:Something for the Weekend 601: 478:that repeated the scene. 411: 167: 142:Hate to Say I Told You So 998:2005 television specials 933:23 February 2007 at the 860:The TV They Tried to Ban 798:The TV They Tried to Ban 765:The TV They Tried to Ban 658:The TV They Tried to Ban 592:The TV They Tried to Ban 535:The TV They Tried to Ban 350:The TV They Tried to Ban 266:The TV They Tried to Ban 243:The TV They Tried to Ban 174:The TV They Tried to Ban 132:" was played during its 114:The TV They Tried to Ban 51:highlighted examples of 49:The TV They Tried to Ban 794:Bronx Bunny and Teddy T 533:characters is shown in 596:Mull of Kintyre theory 27:television documentary 914:13 April 2006 at the 644:famous for 15 minutes 515:-themed period drama 469:The Singing Detective 445:morally objectionable 297:The Vagina Monologues 833:Derren Brown: Seance 817:) — 2,215 complaints 767:plays a moment from 272:) who 'invaded' the 217:during which singer 560:, about a group of 308:at the time, but a 282:The Frost Programme 183:interview with the 731:(and treatment of 721:Gunther von Hagens 547:Footballers' Wives 531:Footballers' Wives 518:Tipping the Velvet 484:Footballers' Wives 386:Love Thy Neighbour 378:Mind Your Language 361:Mind Your Language 355:Love Thy Neighbour 53:offensive language 31:British television 835:(Channel 4, 2004) 829:(Channel 4, 2001) 827:Brass Eye Special 743:be shown on TV - 702:Brass Eye Special 511:, but describing 430:Margaret Thatcher 201:Thames Television 57:sexually explicit 1005: 949: 944: 938: 925: 919: 906: 900: 899: 898: 896: 884: 432:'s 1979 rise to 418:Swinging Sixties 122:gross-out humour 25:British one-off 1013: 1012: 1008: 1007: 1006: 1004: 1003: 1002: 973: 972: 958: 953: 952: 945: 941: 935:Wayback Machine 926: 922: 916:Wayback Machine 907: 903: 894: 892: 886: 885: 881: 876: 783: 717: 604: 558:Animal Passions 414: 389:(predominantly 364:were loved by " 343:Peter Sutcliffe 211:controversy on 170: 165: 150: 134:closing credits 108:Charlie Parsons 84:Caprice Bourret 39:"Banned" season 12: 11: 5: 1011: 1001: 1000: 995: 990: 985: 971: 970: 957: 956:External links 954: 951: 950: 939: 920: 901: 878: 877: 875: 872: 852:'s portrayal. 837: 836: 830: 824: 818: 782: 779: 716: 713: 712: 711: 698: 682: 603: 600: 475:Right to Reply 458:film series, ( 422:artistic films 413: 410: 382:Stephen K Amos 366:middle England 169: 166: 164: 161: 149: 146: 100:David Quantick 92:Stephen K Amos 43:Monkey Kingdom 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1010: 999: 996: 994: 991: 989: 986: 984: 981: 980: 978: 969: 965: 964: 960: 959: 948: 943: 936: 932: 929: 924: 917: 913: 910: 905: 891: 890: 883: 879: 871: 869: 865: 861: 857: 853: 851: 846: 842: 834: 831: 828: 825: 822: 819: 816: 812: 808: 807: 803: 802: 801: 799: 795: 791: 786: 778: 776: 775: 774:The Day Today 770: 766: 762: 758: 754: 750: 746: 742: 738: 734: 730: 726: 723:'s televised 722: 709: 705: 704:(paedophilia) 703: 699: 696: 692: 688: 687: 683: 680: 676: 672: 671: 667: 666: 665: 663: 659: 655: 653: 649: 645: 641: 637: 633: 629: 625: 624: 619: 618: 613: 609: 599: 597: 594:examines the 593: 589: 585: 581: 577: 576: 571: 567: 563: 559: 554: 552: 548: 544: 540: 536: 532: 528: 524: 523:Garry Bushell 520: 519: 514: 510: 509: 508:Queer as Folk 504: 503: 498: 494: 490: 486: 485: 479: 477: 476: 471: 470: 465: 461: 457: 452: 450: 446: 442: 439: 435: 431: 427: 423: 419: 409: 407: 402: 400: 396: 392: 387: 383: 379: 375: 371: 367: 363: 362: 357: 356: 351: 346: 344: 340: 336: 335:Michael Grade 332: 329: 325: 321: 320: 315: 311: 307: 303: 299: 298: 293: 289: 288: 283: 280:'s chat show 279: 275: 271: 267: 263: 259: 255: 254:Gordon Ramsay 251: 246: 244: 240: 239:Pretty Vacant 236: 232: 228: 224: 223:Ewan McGregor 220: 216: 215: 210: 206: 202: 198: 194: 190: 186: 182: 179: 175: 160: 157: 155: 145: 143: 139: 135: 131: 130:Anything Goes 127: 123: 119: 115: 111: 109: 105: 104:Garry Bushell 101: 97: 93: 89: 85: 81: 77: 72: 70: 66: 62: 58: 54: 50: 46: 44: 40: 36: 32: 28: 24: 20: 19: 962: 942: 923: 904: 893:, retrieved 888: 882: 863: 859: 855: 854: 850:Jesus Christ 844: 840: 838: 832: 826: 820: 804: 797: 787: 784: 772: 764: 757:Channel Five 718: 706:(Channel 4, 701: 685: 668: 657: 656: 631: 622: 616: 612:rave culture 605: 591: 573: 566:Derek Jarman 557: 555: 546: 542: 534: 530: 516: 506: 500: 482: 480: 473: 467: 464:pornographic 456:Red Triangle 454:Channel 4's 453: 438:Conservative 415: 403: 385: 377: 374:Vince Powell 359: 353: 349: 347: 331:superimposed 328:Chris Morris 317: 302:Fern Britton 295: 287:This Morning 285: 281: 270:Felix Dennis 265: 257: 247: 242: 231:pre-recorded 212: 196: 173: 171: 158: 151: 113: 112: 96:Vince Powell 73: 65:advert break 48: 47: 17: 16: 15: 870:' viewers. 856:Ghostwatch' 792:characters 749:Ian Huntley 745:Shaun Ryder 733:dead bodies 608:"lad(ette)" 584:erect penis 562:bestialists 391:swear words 306:John Leslie 278:David Frost 225:both said " 219:Shaun Ryder 193:Bill Grundy 189:Sex Pistols 126:Cole Porter 80:Shaun Ryder 76:celebrities 977:Categories 874:References 864:Ghostwatch 806:Ghostwatch 747:nominates 741:executions 729:human body 670:Ghostwatch 575:Sebastiane 502:EastEnders 441:government 395:homophobic 221:and actor 214:TFI Friday 205:prime time 654:instead. 632:The Word' 497:hypocrisy 489:soft porn 401:insults. 339:censoring 319:Brass Eye 314:satirical 235:Channel 4 187:band the 148:Criticism 138:The Hives 118:narration 88:Paul Ross 35:Channel 4 931:Archived 912:Archived 895:15 April 753:burnings 737:foetuses 693:, shown 640:snogging 636:infamous 628:freakish 617:The Word 551:straight 399:disabled 397:or anti- 199:show on 163:Synopsis 811:BBC One 771:satire 725:autopsy 691:BBC Two 675:BBC One 634:s most 553:actor. 513:lesbian 316:comedy 310:tabloid 292:Caprice 868:fooled 790:puppet 715:Part 4 602:Part 3 588:cinema 578:. The 426:nudity 412:Part 2 384:cites 370:racism 274:studio 250:f-word 168:Part 1 21:was a 841:after 650:or a 572:film 449:remit 434:power 197:Today 154:Ofcom 61:Ofcom 968:IMDb 897:2021 815:1992 769:news 708:2001 695:2005 679:1992 652:poem 648:song 620:and 610:and 580:1991 570:1976 539:ITV2 527:tits 505:and 460:1986 406:2004 358:and 324:1997 304:and 262:Cunt 227:fuck 209:1996 185:punk 181:live 178:1976 128:'s " 106:and 23:2005 966:at 755:on 568:'s 541:'s 493:gay 337:'s 276:of 260:. " 195:'s 191:on 144:". 140:' " 979:: 813:, 677:, 372:. 345:. 326:; 110:. 102:, 98:, 94:, 90:, 86:, 82:, 71:. 69:E4 55:, 45:. 809:( 710:) 697:) 689:( 681:) 673:(

Index

2005
television documentary
British television
Channel 4
"Banned" season
Monkey Kingdom
offensive language
sexually explicit
Ofcom
advert break
E4
celebrities
Shaun Ryder
Caprice Bourret
Paul Ross
Stephen K Amos
Vince Powell
David Quantick
Garry Bushell
Charlie Parsons
narration
gross-out humour
Cole Porter
Anything Goes
closing credits
The Hives
Hate to Say I Told You So
Ofcom
1976
live

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