BBC defends Jo Brand over ‘f***ing Queen’ outburst on Have I Got News For You just minutes after 9pm watershed saying it was ‘intended to be funny’
- Star was labelled ‘offensive’ for four-letter comment on BBC One show
- Brand, 62, asked: ‘Why does the Queen like wearing bright colours?’
- She said it ‘helps her stand out in a crowd’ and ‘she’s the f****** Queen’
- It sparked complaints with some viewers calling for her to be banned
The BBC today defended Jo Brand after she used an expletive to describe the Queen during the latest episode of Have I Got News For You.
The star, who was hosting Friday night’s show, had been labelled ‘offensive’ for her four-letter comment, which aired only minutes after the 9pm watershed.
Ms Brand, 62, was discussing the new book by Royal dresser Angela Kelly, and asked: ‘Why does the Queen like wearing bright colours?’
The Queen in bright colours at Ascot in June 2017 (left) and in Merseyside in June 2018 (left)
The Left-wing comedian answered her own question, saying: ‘Apparently because it helps her stand out in a crowd. That and the fact that she’s the f****** Queen.’
The remark sparked dozens of complaints on social media, with some viewers calling for Ms Brand to be banned – but the BBC refused to discipline her.
A spokesman said: ‘Jo Brand’s joke was aimed at the fact that the Queen’s former dresser claims in a book that the Queen wears bright colours to ‘stand out in a crowd’, but she should be instantly recognisable anyway as she’s the Queen.
‘Although we appreciate that strong language is not to everyone’s tastes, we would like to assure you that this language was not directed at the Queen herself.
Jo Brand used an expletive to describe the Queen on last Friday’s Have I Got News For You
The remark sparked dozens of complaints on social media, with some viewers calling for Ms Brand to be banned – including this tweet from history professor and Ukip founder Alan Sked
The BBC refused to discipline Ms Brand as it delivered its response to the complaint today
‘Have I Got News For You is a satirical entertainment show which offers a humorous take on recent News stories.
Jo Brand controversies on BBC programmes
This is only the latest in a series of controversies involving Jo Brand’s appearances on BBC programmes.
In June, she joked on Radio 4 about acid being thrown at politicians, prompting accusations that she was ‘inciting violence’.
Her comments on the panel show Heresy came after a number of Right-wing politicians, including Nigel Farage, had been splattered with milkshakes thrown by protesters. She said: ‘Why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?’
Police looked into the alleged incitement to violence, but dropped the investigation. Ms Brand later apologised for the remark, saying: ‘Looking back, it probably was somewhat a crass and ill-judged joke that might upset people. I’m sorry.’
The BBC eventually upheld some of the complaints, deciding the joke ‘went beyond what was appropriate’. However they said it did not amount to incitement as it was ‘not intended to be taken at face value’.
In another example of poor taste humour, she once joked: ‘I’ve got a soft spot for Nick Clegg. Face down on Hackney marshes.’
‘Regular viewers expect the panellists and presenters to make comments about stories that are in the news and understand that these contributions are intended to be funny.’
The corporation delivered the ruling having ‘received complaints from viewers who were unhappy with strong language regarding the Queen’.
History professor and Ukip founder Alan Sked had tweeted: ‘Jo Brand insults our head of state by referring to her as ‘the f***ing Queen’.
‘Is this what our BBC license [sic] fee pays for? The BBC has already had to warn Brand. Now time to ban her?
‘There’s free speech and there’s abusing your position as a TV celebrity to mouth obscenities.’
One viewer tweeted to Ofcom, telling the broadcasting watchdog: ‘I would like to complain that on a BBC program [sic] Jo Brand referred to our head of state as ‘the f***ing Queen’. I found this to be deeply offensive.’
Another member of the public sent a message to BBC director-general Tony Hall saying: ‘See how many people are disgusted by Jo Brand.’
Other viewers wrote: ‘The BBC has already had to warn Brand. Now time to ban her,’ and ‘Please get that awful woman off the programme, BBC.’
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