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ITC Rejects Brass Eye Complaints

ITC Rejects Brass Eye Complaints

The ITC has rejected complaints about an episode of Channel 4’s spoof documentary series Brass Eye after viewers objected to a sketch that dealt with child abuse.

The programme, a repeat of a show first broadcast in 1997, featured a sketch in which Brass Eye creator Chris Morris, interviewed a young girl about child abuse. Six viewers complained that the sketch was “inappropriate for humorous treatment.”

The scene was similar in content to Brass Eye‘s spoof documentary on paedophilia, which caused widespread public outrage when it was broadcast in July (see More Power For ITC?). In September the ITC demanded that Channel 4 broadcast an apology for the show (see Channel 4 Rapped For Brass Eye), which was found to have caused an unnecessary degree of offence to many people.

However, this time the ITC ruled in favour of Channel 4, concluding that the satirical target of the sketch was the presenters of such talk shows and not the victims of child abuse. The authority also noted that the reference to abuse was by subtle suggestion and ruled that the sketch did not contravene the programming code in terms of offence against taste and decency.

ITC: 020 7306 7743 www.itc.org.uk

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