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The Beeb Replies

The BBC's (very quick) response to my complaint about that comedy programme the other day:
Dear [Zefrog]

Thank you for your e-mail regarding [sic]

I am sorry if you were offended by the content of 'Happy Mondays: The Don't Watch with Mother Sketchbook'.

I can assure you it's never our intention to deliberately upset its audience.

As you're no doubt aware and the programme title itself suggests the content often 'sails close to the wind'. However we can assure you the programme isn't intended to gratuitously shock and the humour contains no malice.

As a public service financed by the licence fee we must provide programmes which cater for the whole range of tastes in humour. We believe that there's no single set of standards in this area on which the whole of society can agree, and it is inevitable that programmes which are acceptable to some will occasionally strike others as distasteful.

The only realistic and fair approach for us is to ensure that the range of comedy is broad enough for all viewers to feel that they are catered for at least some of the time.

Nevertheless we appreciate that you felt this edition was in very poor taste and I'd like to assure you that we've registered your comments on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC.

Thanks again for taking the trouble to contact us with your concerns.

Regards

[name removed]
BBC Complaints
hmmm...

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