BBC Courts Controversy With First Use Of C-Word
The BBC is risking the wrath of sensitive viewers by featuring the ubiquitous “c-word” in a new drama-documentary on medieval witchcraft.
The word was previously considered so implicitly offensive that it was never passed by BBC censors. However, Witchcraze, which will air on BBC2 at 9pm tonight, will use the word in the process of charting the witch-hunts of the 16th and 17th century, which saw countless women tortured and murdered in the name of religion.
A spokeswoman for the BBC commented: “The programme is based on original documents of the time and is historically accurate. The word is not used as a term of abuse, it is a medieval term for vagina.”
The word was commonly spoken in the period and was not seen as offensive. However, it is one of the last remaining taboos of broadcasting. The BBC is hoping the usage of the word will not trigger a raft of complaints. The spokeswoman added: “I hope people see that the language is being used in context and is historically accurate.”
The BBC was in the spot-light earlier this week following news that influential Government advisor, Barry Cox, is set to make a high profile case for the abolition of the licence fee (see Government Advisor Makes Case For Licence Fee Abolition).
BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk
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