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?

Oh sorry I obviously didn't read the OP properly.

I wouldn't call it swearing exactly, but it is lazy English. As the presenter was clearly keen on the idea of a televised debate, he could presumably have described it as:

"a fascinating event"

"an exciting discussion"

"an extremely interesting broadcast"

"revealing and thought-provoking television"

Hell of a show? Pah!

The guy probably had a last minute script and was out there freezing his nads off.

It could have been sooooo much worse

I thought 'one hell of a show' (or 'one helluva show') was a phrase which had gone into common usage, and was used to describe events which have a theatricality outside of - for example, a normal parliamentary debate.

Also I don't think a lot of people consider 'hell' to be a swear word, rather a (mythical, or not depending on your beliefs) place. It is, after all, a word used by vicars and is in the bible, so it can't be such a bad word to use.

Yep, it's not a swear word. Oxford English Dictionary only grades it as "colloq.", it reserves "coarse slang" for proper swearing.

YABU.

Isn't 'one hell of a show' just an expression?

Why blame the whole of the BBC when it's clearly just that the journalist has chosen to use the phrase. Not sure if they have to put things like this through their compliance procedure but I think the strict rules the BBC has to play by now are killing good TV and radio.

Slightly off topic, I expect you would have been absolutely disgusted by David Guest's story on Radio One this morning!

RubberDuck - yes, I think it is the informality that shocked me more than the word itself (which obviously isn't shocking in 99% of contexts, apart from on the BBC news!).

The BBC has a history of formal news broadcasting, clipped accents and consequently, (well, it used to) global respect. I suppose all good things must come to an end....

It all went to pot after they brought in regional accents.

You are right -- you should complain. This is all part of the "some people can get away with anything" at the BBC due to status or facefittery. If you don't complain ain't nobody going to take any notice. Still only a tiny chance if you do but say it anyway.