Every week I publish my very own “Kev’s Column” online. This week I take a look at the controversy surrounding BBC Local Radio Host David Lowe:
“The Sun Has Got His Hat On, Hip, Hip, Hip, Hooray” may have been on many of our lips this week as the sun beamed down on the bay.
I suspect most of us have never got beyond humming or singing the first couple of lines of the chorus when the weather is at its best. Yet the original version of the song, first recorded in 1932 (by two popular UK dance bands Ambrose and his Orchestra, with vocals by Sam Browne, and by the Henry Hall BBC Dance Orchestra with vocals by Val Rosing) contains language that whilst commonly used at the time is now seen as highly offensive.
When a recording of the original version was played by David Lowe on his popular Radio Devon show a listener complained. This set in train a series of events that led to him being asked to resign from his post, despite having offered to make an on air apology for playing this version of the song.
Let’s be clear if a presenter on a Radio programme had intentionally referred to a guest or individuals in this way then I could understand the BBC taking a firm line. Yet in this case there appears to be nothing more than the mistake made of using a version of the song by Ambrose and his Orchestra, whose performances of it included this language.
Anyone can make a mistake and until the recent controversy I, like many others, had not realised the original version of “The Sun Has Got It’s Hat On” contained such language. When I sang it as a child a modern version was used and mostly I never went beyond the first couple of cheery lines anyway. I therefore would not have thought to listen through the song before playing it to check whether any offensive language was in it.
Given the genuine error, a short apology for playing the older version as part of the show, as is done if a guest unexpectedly uses a swear word on air, would have sufficed. The fact this matter was pushed to a resignation, when a similar incident involving a national celebrity was not, does give rise to accusations of double standards by the BBC.
In many films and programmes of the past language that we would not use today is common. Similarly scenes that would have shocked and offended 1930’s filmgoers are now regularly seen on TV. The original “Dambusters” film contains the word that has caused the recent debate as it reflects what was actually said given the historical name of Guy Gibson’s Dog. Likewise the modern US drama “The Wire” contains it many times reflecting its contemporary use in gang culture.
In dealing with this, and other issues of language that some may consider offensive, a sense of proportion is needed. Film, Radio and TV cannot ignore how things were done or said in the past, pretending they were as they are today. That is why documentaries about World War II regularly contain some of the imagery and language used by the Nazi’s to demonise those they sought to oppress. The key on each occasion is the context and for what purpose this is shown or said, not just creating a dictionary of banned words.
In this instance a popular radio show has been lost due to a lack of common sense, but more sadly reports indicate that Mr Lowe’s health has been affected by all the stress around it. I hope he makes a speedy recovery and that the BBC recovers its ability to make a rational decision based on the facts when faced with a complaint about offensive language.