Ofcom clears Channel 4's Shipwrecked over racism complaints

Other complaints regarded the language used by 18-year-old Lucy Buchanan in her introductory interview, which was perceived as racist and/or homophobic and offensive.

As part of her interview, Buchanan said: "I don't really like fat people, I don't really like really ugly people. I don't like it when foreigners come into our country and they don't take on the British culture and the British values. I'm quite for the British Empire and things. I'm for slavery but that's never going to come back."

Later in the programme Buchanan also said she did not like gay women, but on meeting Terri Jones, the only lesbian member of the group, she had quickly changed her mind and they had become friends.

Joe Stone was referred to, by other male contestants, as the "bloke who's like a bird", while one member of the team commented, "you don't need to be like a fairy". None of these comments were made directly to Stone.

Ofcom judged the programme under Rule 2.1 of the Broadcast Code, which states: "Generally accepted standards must be applied to the contents of television and radio services so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from the inclusion in such services of harmful and/or offensive material."

The media regulator also held the programme up against Rule 2.3 of the Code which states: "In applying generally accepted standards broadcasters must ensure that material, which may cause offence is justified by the context. Such material may include offensive language, discriminatory treatment or language (for example on the grounds of race)."

In not upholding the complaints Ofcom took the view that: while Buchanan's views regarding "fat people" and "ugly people", may have been considered to be rude by many viewers, it was the comments regarding the British Empire and slavery that were the most inflammatory.

The regulator noted that these were the views of Buchanan herself and not of the broadcaster Channel 4.

In excusing Channel 4 for broadcasting the content, it observed the channel has a distinctive public service remit under statute to air programming which: "demonstrates innovation, experiment, creativity ... and exhibits a distinctive character."

Ofcom also said that, in terms of viewer expectation, it considers that viewers of reality television programmes of this nature broadcast on Channel 4 expect that they will be confronted with behaviour that they may find offensive and view as generally unacceptable.

The regulator also said that it is recognised that 'Shipwrecked' is the type of programme where viewers may expect emotional and offensive exchanges to occur, as the characters of the participants are revealed.

In summing up, Ofcom noted that this was the first episode in a reality television series, which would last for five months.

It said the term 'reality television' covers many different forms of programme, however, it is a distinct genre which applies the following common conventions: it is unscripted; it places people from different backgrounds and with different attitudes in a confined area to record how they interrelate over a period of time; there are challenges and the prospect of a substantial prize at the end; the resulting tensions generate conflict, which reveals the characters of the participants and influences or decides who ultimately wins.

In not upholding the complaint, Ofcom said it therefore recognised that in terms of the nature and purpose of a show like 'Shipwrecked', it is an integral part of the context of the programme that viewers are given information about the participants' "true characters, behaviour and beliefs".