| Radio Authority fines Virgin Radio £75,000 for serious breach |
Virgin Radio has been fined £75,000 for broadcasting a "swearword hangman" competition involving a child.
The Radio Authority says the broadcast led to a serious breach of rules on taste, decency and offence to public feeling.
The on-air competition called Swearword Hangman was broadcast at just before midnight on January 18.
A nine-year-old child took part by phone in the live on-air contest, in which callers guess the letters of a sexually explicit phrase that uses swear words.
The Radio Authority says the broadcast was "highly offensive, and inappropriate even in the context of adult alternative comedy".
Chairman Richard Hooper says Virgin Radio has acknowledged the seriousness of the complaint received; has made no attempt to excuse the content of the live broadcast; and told the authority it has taken steps to prevent it happening again.
Mr Hooper adds: "Without that immediate response, the members of the authority are clear that the sanctions imposed would have been even higher."
A Virgin Radio spokesman says: "'Virgin Radio acknowledges that Jon Holmes' broadcast was completely inappropriate and unacceptable.
"While the nature of this show broadcast after 11pm was irreverent and known for its close to the edge humour, station guidelines were not followed and on this occasion Jon went too far.
"We regret the on air misjudgement of Jon Holmes and have removed the show from the Virgin Radio Schedule."
Story filed: 08:33 Tuesday 19th March 2002
What's the fun, if they aren't going to tell us what the phrase was.......