JEREMY CLARKSON says that the comedians Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse were “hauled over Ofcom’s coals” for showing a scene in which a man tried to mate his pet northerner with a Filipina maid (The BBC’s letting loonies gag me with mink knickers, News Review, last week). In fact, Ofcom announced just two weeks ago that this sketch did not breach any Ofcom code because the programme explored the issue of social class in such an absurd way. Ofcom concluded that the target of the sketch was not the Filipina maid but Enfield’s character, who was portrayed in a ridiculous and stereotypical way.

On the same day we also ruled on Clarkson’s widely debated comments in an edition of Top Gear in which he referred to lorry drivers murdering prostitutes. In this case we said that the majority of viewers would have understood that the comments were made for comic effect and he was clearly using exaggeration to make a joke.

Both cases were judged against Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code. We must always balance the potential for causing offence against broadcasters’ and the audience’s right to freedom of expression.

Chris Banatvala
Director, Content and Standards
Ofcom, London SE1

Viva! is not violent
Clarkson compares Viva! to the 9/11 suicide bombers. There could be nothing further from the truth. To link Viva!’s name to violent extremism is deeply upsetting and unwarranted. We are a law-abiding, peaceful consumer pressure group with more than 35,000 supporters across the world.

Justin Kerswell
Campaigns Manager
Viva!, Bristol

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