Tonight

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand’s infamous joke on actor Andrew Sachs dominated the national news agenda and ended with a costly punchline for both comedians. Brand quit his radio programme and Ross was suspended for three months from the BBC.

Since then, other broadcasters have also been reprimanded for on-air behaviour deemed offensive by some viewers and listeners. Talksport radio presenter Jon Gaunt was sacked for calling a guest a Nazi live on air, although he claims he meant to call Redbridge councillor Michael Stark a “health Nazi” while discussing plans to ban smokers from adopting children.

So are broadcasters pushing the decency envelope too far or merely replicating the moral standards seen in our everyday lives? Tonight’s Jonathan Maitland explores the issue with the broadcasters at the sharp end of the criticism, including Jon Gaunt, and plays the so-called “offensive material” to a viewers’ jury to gauge whether TV bosses are letting performers go too far.

The programme also looks at whether comedians really need to be profane in order to get laughs, with comedian Richard Herring taking part in an experiment where he performs his stand-up routine with and without swearing.

Last edited: Wednesday, 7 January 2009