Brookside Pulled Up For Sex And Racism

Fifteen viewers complained to the Independent Television Commission (ITC) about an episode of Brookside which contained a scene of a couple having sex in a shower and another scene featuring a group of white racists.

The episode, which was screened on a Saturday tea-time, also featured the word ‘shag’. Channel 4, which broadcasts the soap, notes that the sex scene contained no nudity or detail and was needed to demonstrate the passion in the couple’s relationship. C4 also argued that the use of the word ‘shag’ is now common amongst young people. However, the ITC felt that the scenes were in breach of the Programme Code as they were shown before the watershed.

Similarly, the scene depicting a group of racists which included one use of the term ‘niggerlover’, was deemed inappropriate for broadcast at that time of day by the ITC.

Independent Television Commission: 020 7255 3000