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Channel 4 Apologises After Countdown Broadcasts Homophobic Slur

Channel 4 Apologises After Countdown Broadcasts Homophobic Slur

Viewers were shocked when the seven-letter word was allowed

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Channel 4 has apologised after broadcasting a homophobic slur on an episode of Countdown this week.

Viewers of the popular gameshow were shocked when a contestant was allowed to use the seven-letter word during Monday's (16 August) show.

During the episode, Matt Gould, from Whitley Bay, used the word 'p*****r', which scored him seven points.

However, while he said he believed it would have been edited differently to make it appear as though another word had been read out, it wasn't.

Channel 4

He said: "I apologise for my part in this. I thought it might be edited differently.

"At the time I said, 'I have an inappropriate seven that I know is in the dictionary or a riskier seven that I'm less sure about'.

"I thought that bit would be reshot with a non-offensive seven letter word."

Channel 4 has also since apologised.

A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: "The airing of the word was an error of judgement. It does not align with our values and we apologise for any offence caused."

Channel 4

Pointless co-presenter Richard Osman said it really could have been avoided and should have been an 'easy fix' for producers.

He said: "The contestant was embarrassed to be saying it, but in that situation, the easy solution is to all agree he scored seven points and to retake with a different answer.

"We've done that a couple of times with 'correct' answers.

"A very easy fix, and not an uncommon one."

PA

TV journalist Scott Bryan said it was completely unacceptable.

He said: "As someone who was called a 'p*****r' by homophobes on a daily basis why on earth is Countdown allowing it to be said cheerfully as an answer on daytime television? Yes, I know it is in the dictionary.

"But having been at the receiving end of that word as abuse for years (along with f*****), then hearing it casually as an answer on a quiz show... jesus christ.

"The amount of people saying 'it is only a word,' I'm pretty sure it was only a word back in the classrooms back then too. Yet it feels the same."

Following Channel 4's apology, Bryan added: "Thank you Channel 4 for the apology and for being open about your mistake. It means a lot to me."

Featured Image Credit: Channel 4

Topics: Quiz, Entertainment, Countdown, UK Entertainment