Swearing on the f**king radio.

Hi,

I seem to remember on the writers guidelines for Recorded for Training Purposes last year, that you are not allowed to swear on Radio 4.

My question is, what do they constitute as swearing? With the exception of the obvious ones I mean, can you sneak a 'bitch' in there for example, or other such words?

I am writing some radio sketches at the minute, and could do with knowing what I can and can't get away with.

Does anybody have a list of words you are not allowed to use on radio?

Love and Hugs,

Trabs.

Quote: Trabs @ August 5 2010, 11:31 AM BST

Love and Hugs

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There's two words you can't use right there.

Whether or not you can use the word 'bitch' would depend entirely on context I should think. "Don't be such a bitch" said to a man in a way that describes him as a bit of a gossip I expect would be fine. "I smacked the bitch right in the mouth" is unlikely to see transmission.

Writing them for a comission?

I'd say if swearing risks you getting cut early don't bother.

Rude words you can use?
Swine, sod, blighter, dog, git, prat (albiet is an early version of c**t), bum, wally,

Borderline
Dick, bugger, bastard, feck,

Way out
C**t, shit, twunt, c**ting twunting shitty camel raping dwarf molester, Andrew Sachs.

I think "tits" got into Newsjack.

I think that was more to do with fending off too many people using too many swear words. RFTP got away with a few but a sketch about celebrity products had the superb line of 'Keith Allen's F**king Chutney' recorded but vetoed by the censors.

Have the BBC explained their "no swearing on the radio" policy? If it's after the watershed, who gives a c**ting f**k?

Trabs, I think with Radio 4, it's best to not bother with any swears at all, even light ones, not if you're sending stuff in on spec, for example.

The only show on Radio 4 that I've heard swearing on (Bollocks and Bastard, for example) is on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. They seem to get away with it on there, despite it's broadcast time of Sunday mid-day.

Tits did get used on Newsjack, I got it into my Barry Chuckle sketch, and somebody else got it into another one.

I really want to say 'Son of a bitch'. it's in-keeping with the character...kind of.

Quote: Trabs @ August 5 2010, 1:34 PM BST

Tits did get used on Newsjack, I got it into my Barry Chuckle sketch, and somebody else got it into another one.

I really want to say 'Son of a bitch'. it's in-keeping with the character...kind of.

View original

Maybe go with 'Son-Of-A-Tit' instead, then?

Or Titty-bitch.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ August 5 2010, 1:37 PM BST

Maybe go with 'Son-Of-A-Tit' instead, then?

View original

Quote: john lucas 101 @ August 5 2010, 1:37 PM BST

Or Titty-bitch.

View original

That's my nickname for Ben.

Marc & Lard used to swear all the time.

You make me swear, Leevil. In between the floods of tears.

Can you swear on any BBC Radio channel?