Should Top Gear cut the bad language?

The boys are coming under fire for their colourful language.

The boys are coming under fire for their colourful language.

Published Feb 15, 2012

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The BBC has promised to curb bad language in its programmes, but it seems that Top Gear is exempt.

The popular show is broadcast at 8pm in the UK - an hour before the watershed - and is now widely regarded as family entertainment rather than a car show for ‘lads’.

But on the most recent show, one guest used the word b******s and the word t***** was sprayed across a car.

In another segment, the F-word had to be bleeped out seven times in five minutes, while the word s*** was censored so badly it was clear what was being said.

Irate viewers took to Twitter to question why such language was necessary. One said: “Come on BBC! Why so much swearing in a family show?”

Another said: “Some words are bleeped out but others aren’t. Younger viewers may be watching so either screen it after 9pm or cut out the swearing.”

The corporation said it would cut back on offensive language in 2009 after a survey of more than 2000 viewers found that even young people were concerned about its proliferation.

Most of the expletives in Sunday’s Top Gear were during a sketch in which hosts Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond attempted to choreograph a car chase in the style of 1970s police drama The Sweeney.

A BBC spokesman declined to comment.

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