Broadcaster hits back after Commons committee chair attacks comedian's jibes about war in Afghanistan as 'deeply offensive' WARNING: this story contains language which readers may find offensive

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

Channel 4 came out fighting this morning over calls to sack the controversial comedian Frankie Boyle after he used racial language in jokes about the war in Afghanistan.

The Tuesday night episode of Boyle's Tramadol Nights series on Channel 4 included three uses of racial epithets – which the broadcaster were "clearly intended" as a satirical.

However, John Whittingdale, chairman of the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee, attacked Boyle's comments as "deeply offensive" and hard for Channel 4 to justify. He also called for an immediate Ofcom investigation.

The Channel 4 head of comedy commissioning, Shane Allen, this morning said that he "strongly refutes" claims that the broadcaster is "endorsing or condoning racist language". He said Boyle's "cutting edge" comedy highlighted the "unacceptable nature" of this language.

During the programme, and referring to the war in Afghanistan, Boyle said: "Basically, we are murdering a load of shepherds. What gets me is our callousness as a society when we read out our dead on the news first, because our lives are more important. Other people's aren't worth as much."

He then adopted a newsreader's tone, saying: "A bomb went off in Kandahar today, killing two British servicemen, three UN relief workers and a whole bunch of Pakis."

The comic said later: "The Ministry of Defence? At least in the old days we were honest, it was the Ministry of War. 'Hello Ministry of War, department of nigger bombing, how can I help?'"

A warning before the show advised viewers that it would contain "very strong language and uncompromising adult content which some viewers will find offensive".

A third item on Tuesday night involved a surreal sketch featuring a woman dressed as the Super Mario video games character, who danced provocatively before using a racial epithet.

In a statement released to the Guardian, Channel 4's Allen added: "Channel 4 strongly refutes any suggestion we are endorsing or condoning racist language by our broadcast of Frankie's Boyle's Tramadol Nights".

"This cutting edge comedy is clearly intended to ridicule and satirise the use of these words – Frankie Boyle was not endorsing them. Channel 4 would not have broadcast these words had they been used in a racist way.

"All the jokes highlight the unacceptable nature of this language. We are aware that Frankie Boyle's comedy can offend which is why we have been careful to scrutinise the material editorially, schedule the series appropriately and give clear and strong warning into each programme."

Media regulator Ofcom and Channel 4 are understood to have cumulatively received a handful of complaints about the broadcast. Ofcom has received about 600 complaints about the past five episodes of the comic's Tramadol Nights series.

Ofcom said it was not investigating Boyle's Tuesday night show, but had not ruled out launching an inquiry at a later date. The regulator is already investigating the previous episode of Boyle's series over jokes made about Katie Price's disabled son.

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