4. The First Time The Word 'F**k' Was Mentioned On TV
Kenneth Tynan was a respected theatre critic and writer. In November 1965 he took part in a live BBC satirical debate programme called BBC-3. Someone asked him if he would tolerate simulated sexual intercourse on the stage. His reply: "Well I think so, certainly. I doubt if there are any rational people to whom the word f**k would be particularly diabolical, revolting or totally forbidden. I think anything which can be printed or said can also be seen". No recording exists of the show but Private Eye stated that this was the first time the f bomb had been dropped on television. But two other instances have been noted before this. Brilliant Irish playwright Brendan Behan was a terrible drunkard and on Panorama in 1956, he is alleged to have used the word in his drunken ramblings, but it was not decipherable to audience ears. On Ulster Television, an interviewed but not seen man described his railway job as "f**king boring" in 1959. But it is Tynan to whom the infamy fell on. It may have been self publicity and it worked because he was the most notorious man in Britain for a while. After many complaints, the BBC had to issue an apology. Politician went bonkers filing motions against Tynan, and Mary Whitehouse was so incensed, she wrote a letter to the Queen. Nowadays, nobody really bats an eyelid on swearing as long as it is after the 9pm watershed. The 'f word' is commonplace on telly and all of this fuss over Tynan's linguistic choice is an anachronism.