To wonder what the BBC is coming to?

[RockinSockBunnies]

So, I was watching the Ten O' Clock news this evening, which was a fairly rare event as I tend to read most news online. Anyhow, one of the key stories was the advent of televised political debates between the leaders of the UK's respective political parties in the run-up to next year's General Election.

So, there was a live interview with the BBC political correspondent, Nick Robinson, who was standing outside Westminster (and who I feel very sorry for in this freezing weather). However, at the end of his little commentary, he said that the forthcoming debates would prove to be "one hell of a show".

Now, I sat there and my jaw dropped. Since when do BBC correspondents use 'hell' in their broadcasts? I don't know that I recall ever hearing this on the news.

I have no issue with swearing on TV (after watershed etc - I love Sex and the City and swear like a trooper myself). But, surely the BBC is supposed to set some kind of standards of language, in its news programmes, regardless of the content of anything else?

Am I being totally ridiculous and is this now commonplace for newsreaders? Or am I right to be shocked?

Im with you

"one hell of a show" isnt BBC news language to me - more the dreaded Mail

I was somewhat shocked at the televised debates as well - especially as they will be on bbc, itv and sky!

Phew! Am glad someone agrees. I'm sitting here wondering whether I've turned into a middle-aged DM reader, but honestly, I just couldn't believe what I was hearing!

I agree too.

I totally agree.

Actually I think Nick Robinson is a bit of a tosser and is often responsible for similar lapses in appropriate language. He's always upbeat and full of himself IMO.

I can't stand these celeb-journalists. Too show-bizzy. Very dumbed down. It gets in the way of proper journalism and merges in to crappy TV infotainment.

TOTALLY agree with you! I'd already been on the verge of calling the beeb to complain about that smirky idiot on crimewatch who'd had a bit of a smirk at the name of a child abuser earlier. Then the news with 'one hell of a show'.

Sound like an old fart, but SERIOUSLY what is happening to the BBC?

Reminds me why I can't watch those shows and only listen to the headlines.

I also commented on this - so out of character for a presenter

I complained to the BBC once because they spelled 'Arctic' as 'ARTIC' several times in their wee tickers at the bottom of their news features.

I resent PAYING for crap spelling.

absolutely agree.

If you listen to any play or drama, or in fact the Archers, on Radio 4 these days they are littered with buggers, sods and bloody.

And it is getting worse.

Complain if you feel that strongly! I complained about anonymous women being filmes walking down the street and used to illustrate "prostitution" in a Jeremy Paxman programme a while back and got a reply.

Also, we were watching the news the other week, and it came to the part where a sports presenter [I think] had to do his bit.

He looked a right scruff, his shirt didn't look as if it had been done up and his tie wasn't knotted properly.

DH and I both noticed and commented, then laughed at ourselves for being like a pair of pensioners complaining that the BBC announcers were not as smart as they used to be.

The next time they cut to him he looked totally different, all done up properly, and apologised for not having been properly dressed before. There were lots of jokes from the other presenters about his mum having phoned up.

So presumably we were not the only people to notice!

Agree. News 24 has instances of this type of thing as well.

YANBU I really do not like bad language on TV.

Recently I am at the number of children TV programms (CBBC) where children say "Shut up" to their parents!

I usually turn the TV off when it is like that but soon my DCS won't be able to watch TV at all if it carries on that way!

Sorry, but totally disagree, its not a tragic event he's referring to, nobody has died, its a very common phrase used by lots of people, cant see how it can offend anyone, or why anyone would consider actually complaining about it....bizarre

How can the word Hell be bad language?!?! Are we in 2009 or 1909?

What? I'm with thedogsgottago. 'Hell' is hardly swearing. I feel weirdly out of touch now. This all sounds a bit 'Outraged of Chipping Sodbury' to me.

(Oh no, I said Sod)

I think there are far more important things in life to get worked up about. Anybody who finds the time to get offended by this sort of stuff must lead a very dull life.

do you lot ever complain about the dirge that is eastenders?

YABVU That's not swearing. The worst you can accuse it of is informality/slang.

Now if he'd said that the candidates were all fucking cunts, then I might have been a bit taken aback (but secretly agreed with him).

YANBU. I would definitely say that hell, sod, bloody etc. are swear words when used in that context. I rarely watch TV anyway and hate turning on what promises to be a great program only to turn it off after 5 minutes because the producer is trying to be 'edgy' and litters the script with swearing and inappropriate comments. I would expect that kind of trash from some programs (unfortunately) but not BBC News!

Slightly off-topic but it's the same with film ratings now. I was horrified when I got out 'The Prince and Me' (rated PG) for a girly sleepover and found that it was full of swearing, sex and drunkeness. Yuck.

YANBU - but I'm shocked to learn that the BBC news is reporting on political issues when we have Strictly to dissect.

I think it's a fucking embarassment that our flag ship news carrier is full of such utter tosh.

LOL at RubberDuck.

YABU - now if it was everything said and everything shown on ITV news then you would have a point.

I don't care about scruffiness or swearing at all, but I am appalled at the BBC's hopeless spelling and punctuation. "He is mentally-ill" I read yesterday - shouldn't have a hyphen - the editor there has no idea about hyphens or a lot of other stuff. Obviously I do realise it doesn't matter at all and it totally trivial, but I do expect people who work at the BBC to get some basic training in how to write.

(spot the obligatory pedant's typo...)

'Hell' is swearing? Must start watching what I say then!