BBC Trust rules Radio Four using the words ‘cox sackers’ was ‘grossly offensive’
The BBC Trust has ruled that Radio Four programme Thinking Allowed should not have said the words ‘cox sackers’ on air when reading out a letter.
The words were said on 25 April last year when the presenter was reading out a letter from a listener in response to the sacking of a cox from a rowing team.
However, one listener described it as a "grossly offensive play on words", and complained to the BBC Trust, adding that their complaint was ignored twice by the corporation management.
The Trust agreed with the complainant, saying that many listeners would have mistaken it for a "seriously offensive word" and ruled it a breach of the BBC's broadcasting guidelines.