BACC Accused Of Humour Bypass

The BACC has been accused of regulating for regulations sake after banning ads for the video and DVD of ITV1’s satirical animated show 2DTV.

The show’s producer, Giles Pilbrow, told the Media Guardian that he was informed by the broadcasting advertising watchdog that he could only screen an ad featuring George Bush if he obtained written permission from the US president.

According to the Guardian, the proposed ad involving Mr Bush putting a copy of the 2DTV DVD into his toaster was deemed offensive. Subsequent ads featuring David Beckham, Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden were turned down on similar grounds. After two weeks of lengthy negotiations, 2DTV settled with an ad, aired yesterday, in which Mr Bush is shown laughing.

Mr Pilbrow commented: “We came across a bureaucratic wall. Someone is going to come out of this looking very stupid and it’s not me.”

The BACC has refused to comment on the decision which has provoked a multitude of complaints on its own discussion forum, accusing the organisation of “quango style censorship in its worst form” and of “creating a dangerous precedent.”

Another posting read “I would be grateful if you [the BACC] could explain how it is possible to effectively advertise a satirical programme without permitting any satire in the advertisement? The guidelines on offensive material relate to the legal interpretation of what is offensive to the public, not the personal view or politics of the BACC.”

BACC: 0207 843 8265 www.bacc.org.uk

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