UK TV and Radio News

Ofcom has issued new censorship rules to broadcasters about politicians presenting news

The guidance, which comes into force immediately, reflects the modern news landscape and sets guardrails for broadcasters who use politicians as presenters in programmes that include news.

Specifically, our revised guidance explains the interaction between our due accuracy and due impartiality in news rule (5.1 under the Broadcasting Code), and the rule which prevents politicians from presenting news programmes (5.3). It also updates the definition of politician to provide greater clarity.

Access to duly accurate and duly impartial news on television and radio is fundamental to a democratic society. As such, broadcast news is afforded a higher level of protection under UK law compared to non-news content.

The news landscape has evolved in recent years. The distinction between news and current affairs content has become more blurred for audiences [3] , and while politicians presenting current affairs programmes isnt new, it has become a more established editorial practice.

Responses to our consultation were polarised, reflecting the broad range of views overall, and there was a high level of consensus amongst broadcasters in favour of retaining the wording of Rule 5.3. Many respondents were concerned that amending Rule 5.3 would introduce significant practical challenges and operational uncertainty for broadcasters, and that it would inadvertently result in a de facto ban on politicians presenting any kind of programmes.

Our decision in detail

The wording of Rule 5.3 will remain unchanged. Instead, we have decided that there is sufficient protection for audiences through the existing combination of Rules 5.1 and 5.3, but we have issued amended Guidance to make the relationship between them clearer, and more relevant to the modern news landscape. Specifically, we have decided to:

update our Guidance to Rule 5.1, which states that news, in whatever form, must be reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality.

Our amendments make explicit that if an MP presented news in a non-news programme, then their status as an MP would likely be a relevant factor in considering whether that news was presented with due impartiality. We explain that we would also take into account all other relevant factors -- including, for example, the nature and subject of the news in question and the MPs political position on that issue. The new guidance also signposts that where politicians present news in news programmes, Rule 5.3 applies.

update our Guidance to Rule 5.3 , which states that no politician may be used as a newsreader, interviewer or reporter in any news programmes unless, exceptionally, it is editorially justified . In that case, the political allegiance of that person must be made clear to the audience.

Our amended guidance offers further clarification on the meaning of exceptional circumstances -- defined as those which cannot be controlled or foreseen by the broadcaster. We also make clear that we would expect such situations to be rare, and for licensees who use politicians as presenters to put appropriate contingency arrangements in place to avoid these situations.

update the definition of politician in our Guidance

The new definition now includes a reference to members of the House of Lords and representatives of political parties, while the reference to activists has been removed.

These changes to the Guidance come into force from today. Politicians as presenters in non-news programmes, including current affairs programmes

There is no Ofcom rule that prevents a politician from presenting or appearing on a TV or radio programme -- providing they arent standing in an election taking place, or about to take place, and that the programme otherwise complies with the Broadcasting Code

Crocodile Dundee is a 1986 Australia comedy adventure by Peter Faiman.
Starring Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski and John Meillon.

The shortened International Version was cut for strong language. This was released in the UK without further cuts for a 15 rated cinema release in 1986. However BBFC category cuts were required for 15 rated VHS. These video cuts were waived for the DVD release of the International Version. In 2025 modern sensitivities resulted in transgender jokes being cut for a version entitled The Encore Cut.

Thanks to Jon who writes:

Channel Five broadcast without any announcements - CROCODILE DUNDEE: THE ENCORE CUT (this is now the main onscreen title) - at 3:10pm on Sunday 7th Sep 2025.

I thought it odd, when their version started with an on-screen notification about Rimfire Films (the production company of CRICODILE DUNDEE) paying homage to Australia's traditional custodians where the film was made, along with notes about the film containing scenes of deceased persons to Torres Strait Islanders. (That'll be referring to actor David Gulpilil who played Neville.) Such a note doesn't appear in any previous version if the film, and is a modern Australian trend, that only started about 5-8 years ago.

Five gave a brief verbal warning about the film containing mildly offensive language and mild violence, but that was it. I'm surprised Five were broadcasting this version when it's not been officially released to UK cinemas or home viewing formats.

P.S. No idea if more cuts were made to the film for content reasons, by Five for its Sunday afternoon time slot, but seeing as the controversial scenes involving the Trans actor have already been removed by Rimfire themselves, there shouldn't be too much other content (bar the brief misuse of drugs scene, and two f-words) that needed censoring. I did note that: the word bugger was cut from the audio in the post-opening-credits bar scene, but the word was left intact on the subtitles!

The new print looks stunning, even if it was only broadcast in HD, not 4K.

Salaam BCR is a local radio station in the Manchester area.

Ofcom has just fined the radio station owners Markaz-Al-Huda Ltd for material broadcast on Salaam BCR on 17 October 2023 at 14:00 and 16:3

The fine of £3500 was imposed for breaches of the Ofcom censorship rules:

• Rule 3.2: “Material which contains hate speech must not be included in…radio programmes…except where it is justified by the context”;

• Rule 3.3: “Material which contains abusive or derogatory treatment of individuals, groups, religions or communities, must not be included in…radio services…except where it is justified by the context”; and

• Rule 2.3: “In applying generally accepted standards broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence is justified by the context…Such material may include, but is not limited to, offensive language…discriminatory treatment or language (for example on the grounds of…race, religion or belief…) ...Appropriate information should also be broadcast where it would assist in avoiding or minimising offence”.

The offending programme was broadcast on Salaam BCR featuring a 38- minute speech delivered by Mr Shujauddin Sheikh. The speech was delivered to an audience outside the Karachi Press Club in Pakistan on 12 October 2023. During the programme, Mr Shujauddin presented his views on the ongoing situation in the Middle East and, in particular, what he considered to be a lack of response by Muslim leaders around the world to the suffering of Palestinian Muslims in Gaza.

Ofcom concluded this broadcast contained antisemitic hate speech and abusive and derogatory statements, which were potentially highly offensive and not justified by the context.

The BBC has pulled a documentary which follows the life of a boy in war-torn Gaza after seemingly coming under pressure from Israeli supporters.

Gaza: How To Survive A War Zone which was on the BBC's iPlayer streaming service centres on the struggles of 13-year-old Abdullah, living under Israel's brutal offensive in the Palestinian territory.

Following pressure, it was taken down on Friday, a day after British Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she would discuss the issue with the BBC's director general and chairman. The BBC says that a number of British television figures also had sent letters criticising it and called for an investigation.

The documentary was removed after the BBC with the explanation that the organisation discovered that the boy's father, Dr Ayman Alyazouri, has worked as a deputy agriculture minister in the Gaza government. Following the ban, the BBC issued a statement saying:

The film remains a powerful child's eye view of the devastating consequences of the war in Gaza which we believe is an invaluable testament to their experiences, and we must meet our commitment to transparency.

Despite it being pulled from iPlayer, many online users have shared the one-hour documentary on social media.