Ofcom: Gordon Ramsay shows broke broadcasting rules
December 5, 2022
By Colin Mann
UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has ruled that two TV programmes, featuring celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, broke its broadcasting rules, because they included offensive language but were shown before the 9pm watershed.
An episode of Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back, broadcast before the watershed at 12.10 on Channel 4 on August 10th, included instances of the most offensive language, including the F word.
An episode of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA, broadcast at 4pm on E4 Extra on July 7th, included 39 instances of offensive language, with 17 uses of the F word, before the watershed and without any warnings ahead of the programme or apologies after it had been shown.
Both of these incidents were in breach of the Broadcasting Code.
There are strict rules about what can be shown on TV before the 9pm watershed – this is the time at which broadcasters can show TV programmes that might be unsuitable for children. There are similarly strict rules about can be broadcast on radio at times when children are particularly likely to be listening, such as the school run and breakfast time, but might include other times.