Radio show censured for Boyzone sketch

RTÉ 2FM was today rapped by the broadcasting watchdog for allowing foul and offensive language be aired on a morning chat show.

On the 'Colm and Jim-Jim Breakfast Show' last May an actor posing as popstar Ronan Keating asked his Boyzone bandmate how he would tackle itchy nether regions after a waxing.

During the sketch the pair also talked about wanting to violently beat a third member of the group, Mikey Graham, repeatedly using the ’f’ word.

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission said the station failed to exercise due care as children could have been listening to the programme, aired at 8.55am.

In the DJs’ defence, RTÉ said the show was sometimes ’zany’, aimed at over 25s and known for its risque humour.

“The use of the ’f’ word has a strong potential to cause offence,” the BCC said.

“This fact is widely known and accepted by society at large.

“Further, the Commission noted that the humour was based on aggressive behaviour.”

The BCC said the tone and manner of the humour was not what most parents would want their children to hear.

During the comedy sketch, the Ronan Keating character asked the pretend Stephen Gately what he can do about his ’itchy balls’ as hair he had waxed was growing back.

The sketch also featured a conversation between the pair about wanting to beat fellow Boyzone star Mikey Graham and what other violence they would like him to suffer.

A listener who complained to the BCC said that as children had been on the show a short time before the sketch, the content was in bad taste.

RTÉ claimed listeners would have expected the language and subject matter in a 2FM comedy sketch and the programme was aimed at the 25 to 44 age group.

However, the broadcaster conceded families could have tuned in.

“As the show was a typical slightly ’zany’ show with the usual eccentric humour and language these parents listening with their children did so in the knowledge that some of the humour might be a little bit risque,” the station told the BCC.

In a separate ruling, the BCC found against broadcaster Pat Kenny, claiming he did not do enough to stop actor Gabriel Byrne from endorsing independent local election candidate Mannix Flynn on the show.

Mr Byrne appeared last May and came on with a Mannix Flynn leaflet visible in his pocket.

He talked of the Dublin South East Inner City candidate’s integrity and urged the public to support him.

The BCC said Mr Kenny did nothing to tone down Mr Byrne’s comments and drew attention to the election leaflet.