Coverage of BAFTA awards, ±«Óãtv News Channel, 18 February 2024

Complaint

The coverage included an interview between the ±«Óãtv’s Entertainment Correspondent Colin Paterson and the BAFTA nominee Andrew Scott.  A viewer complained about the following exchange about another Irish actor, Barry Keoghan, recently noted for his leading role in the film Saltburn:

Colin Paterson: Do you know Barry well?

Andrew Scott: I know Barry yeah.

CP: OK. Your reaction when you first saw the naked dance scene at the end of Saltburn?

LM: No spoilers please.

AS: Ah Jeez, well listen I won’t spoil it for anybody. You know, it was great, it was great.

CP: You can spoil away.

AS: You know I won’t spoil it for anybody.

CP There is a lot of talk about prosthetics – how well do you know him?

AS: (Turns to walk away)  See you guys…

The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the ±«Óãtv’s Editorial Guidelines about potentially offensive content.


Outcome

The relevant Guidelines say the ±«Óãtv’s right to broadcast challenging content should be balanced against the requirement to avoid unjustified offence and that

±«Óãtv output should “keep in touch with generally accepted standardsâ€.  The ECU agreed the final question on this occasion fell short of those requirements, but noted that Mr Paterson had apologised later in the programme and that the ±«Óãtv subsequently issued a statement acknowledging the question was misjudged.  In the ECU’s view, this sufficed to resolve the issue of complaint.

Resolved