GAVIN and Stacey only got ELEVEN Ofcom complaints over using the word “faggot” despite mass complaints online. The show won the Christmas Day TV ratings war with 12.31million viewers – the largest audience recorded that day in a decade. But Twitter viewers angrily complained they were offended by the homophobic slur used during a karaoke song […]
GAVIN and Stacey only got ELEVEN Ofcom complaints over using the word “faggot” despite mass complaints online.
The show won the Christmas Day TV ratings war with 12.31million viewers – the largest audience recorded that day in a decade.
But Twitter viewers angrily complained they were offended by the homophobic slur used during a karaoke song with Nessa and Uncle Bryn.
In a rendition of The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York, the show aired the welsh characters singing the word “faggot” on Christmas Day.
Gay rights campaigners said the word was “pejorative” to the LGBT community and that the BBC should bleep it out.
Despite the hysteria online, an Ofcom spokesman told The Sun Online: “We’ve received 11 complaints.”
After a teaser clip revealed the word would be aired, the BBC argued that the song is played on national and regional radio throughout the Christmas period.
And in an exclusive interview with The Sun, Ruth defended the use of the word and said she and James decided to remain “true to the characters” in the highly-anticipated new episode.
She said: “It is a different climate. But we have to remain true to the characters, to who they were.
“Characters in Gavin & Stacey are kind and big-hearted, I believe. So I think no one is going to be intentionally hurtful.
“But by the same token, they’re not necessarily going to be completely politically correct or be aware of political correctness.”
Some viewers disagreed and argued it wasn’t appropriate language to use in 2019.
One angry fan said: “Such a shame @JKCorden thinks it’s OK to use homophobic language in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special.
“How are the gay kids sat watching with their family meant to feel as everyone guffaws at “f****t” being shouted on Christmas Day? You let us down.’
Another said: “Well #GavinandStacey ruined Christmas by allowing every family to sing f****t in the living room. Well done @JKCorden. You absolute mess.”
Someone else said: “Well done for writing the word f****t into your script you inconsiderate pair of c***s x.”
When the Christmas special aired at 8.30pm on BBC, half (49.2 per cent) of all TV viewers tuned in with an average of 11.5million viewers.
The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast was the next most-watched programme, with Strictly Come Dancing, EastEnders and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show finishing in the top five.
Fans are already begging for writers James Corden and Ruth Jones to bring Gavin and Stacey back after the episode ended in a cliffhanger.
