BBC News Online: Entertainment

Complaints over Ali G catchphrase

The Independent Television Commission was concerned that the misspelled word "punarni" was displayed on screen during ITV's daytime show Celebrity TV.

The ITC thought the word - a patois term used to refer to an intimate part of the female anatomy - could upset the African-Caribbean community, because of the time of day it appeared.

Broadcaster Carlton said the production team, who displayed the word before an item featuring Ali G - the alter-ego of award-winning comedian Sacha Baron-Cohen, did not realise the word would cause offence.

The company has offered apologies to anyone who may have been offended by the word during the broadcasts, which went out in October in early afternoon and teatime slots.

Naturism complaint

The ITC also upheld complaints about a Channel 5 item on naturism which included footage of a vehicle and could have given the impression that the owner was involved.

Viewers who saw the programme European Blue Review began to contact the owner to ask whether he had taken part and he complained to the ITC, which decided it was a breach of privacy.

Channel 5 accepted the shots should not have been used.

The network was strongly criticised last month by the Broadcasting Standards Council for broadcasting a clip from an R-rated pornographic video, normally only available from licensed sex shops.