 A
daytime episode of Saturday Kitchen in which Strictly Come
Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli swore while preparing his idea of
food hell breached language guidelines, the BBC's Editorial
Standards Committee (ESC) found.
Tonioli used the word 'f******' ('fucking'?), while making an oxtail
dish, rather than his idea of food heaven.
The show's host James Martin, immediately apologised in the programme,
which was broadcast on BBC1 on December 15 last year. Tonioli also
apologised, saying: Sorry, sorry it's passion.
A viewer complained to the BBC and later to the BBC's Editorial
Complaints Unit (ECU).
The ECU acknowledged the use of strong language was not appropriate and
breached standards - and mitigating factors were also outlined such as
the show being live and the guest's disappointment at having to eat
an oxtail dish. The ECU regarded the complaint as resolved on
the grounds that the programme's response to the incident was
sufficient.
The complainant did not agree and an appeal was made to the ESC. The
ESC upheld the complaint about bad language, saying it was serious
and should not have occurred. But it was satisfied that the
actions of the programme team meant no further action was needed.
The ESC found that guests had been given a sufficient pre-broadcast
warning about conduct and language and that the programme had been
prompt to apologise. It noted Martin's comment at the end of the show,
in which he said: ...and Bruno, while you are tasting that, you
deserve to get hell for your potty mouth. Everybody at home, I can only
apologise for the language of my guest. Of course, it's his Italian
passion.
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