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London (pte047/15.02.2005/15:45) - The BBC has been cleared by the media watchdog for a four-letter outburst last November by rock star Elton John on a BBC breakfast radio show. As the Media Guardian http://www.mediaguardian.co.uk reports, the watchdog described the outburst as "light-hearted and mischievous", as it cleared the BBC of breaking guidelines.
Ofcom http://www.ofcom.org.uk said it would take no further action against the BBC after an outburst by Elton John on Chris Moyles' breakfast show in which the veteran rock star uttered a string of obscenities. Although there was widespread media coverage after the broadcast last November, the media regulator said that the fact the BBC had made two on-air apologies during the live interview and subsequently warned the DJ of a need for caution was enough to resolve the matter.
John used the f-word on the show and then used a string of swearwords, asking if they could be used on air. The musician also asked if he was live on air after using the initial expletive, prompting an immediate apology from Moyles. "Yes, we're live. I apologise to the young boys and girls. But it is Elton John," he said. John said he suffered from a "weird syndrome before 10am", and went on to swear further, prompting a further apology from Moyles. "Thanks everyone, you're listening to my last show on Radio 1," said the DJ.
Ofcom described the first outburst as a "genuine slip", before describing the later use of "mild swearing" as "light-hearted" and "mischievous". "In view of the nature of the error, the on-air apologies and the action taken, we consider the matter resolved," it said. The BBC said that tabloid reports of the outburst were wide of the mark, saying that after 9am the breakdown of the audience changed dramatically, meaning that few children were listening. It also said that it did not feel that the outburst had caused widespread offence, with just two out of an average six million listeners complaining.
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