[grimtales1]

Originally Posted by Jinglybells

What an absolutely ridiculous fuss about nothing! How many more people now know what Frankie said because of this woman? It would have been all forgotten about but for all this publicity. And now Frankie has quit which, based on the poor last show when he was absent, means it won't be worth watching any more.

Did Frankie quit just because of this stuff which has sprung up?
The show when he was absent was pretty good, but it lacked something. It felt weird

[degsyhufc]

Originally Posted by grimtales1

Did Frankie quit just because of this stuff which has sprung up?
The show when he was absent was pretty good, but it lacked something. It felt weird

I suppose we'll never know the exact goings on behind the scenes but AFAIK he got bored of it and is working on a standup/sketch show for C4.

[grimtales1]

Fair enough Looking forward to his new show though.

[DavetheScot]

Originally Posted by Doghouse Riley

Give the woman a break, what had she ever done to that pillock?

She responded in the only way she could. Had she had a "show" of her own, she could have given him back as good as she got. But then I doubt if he'd dare say anything.

She's young and knows only swimming (and shoes) and is not part of that "circus." He should restrict his remarks to idiots of his own kind.

Well, first of all, she has chosen an occupation in the public eye, so she is part of that "circus". If footballers like Rooney are fair game, why not her?

Secondly, why the need for her to respond now? This is what seems to be forgotten; Boyle's crap joke was made over a year ago. I can understand that she's a young girl, her looks are a bit of a sensitive matter to her, and if she'd said at the time that she was feeling hurt about it, I'd have felt pretty sympathetic. But she's had over a year to get over it, and yet she's still so annoyed about it that she's putting in a complaint that he's been too leniently disciplined over it. That's not sensitivity, it's jaw-dropping huffiness and a massive sense of self-importance.

[SpecialClub]

This episode confirms why a 2009 revival of Spitting Image would never make it off the drawing board.

Although I found Boyle's joke to be perhaps a little too personal against Adlington, British society is definitely not as thick skinned as it once was.

[Relugus]

Originally Posted by SpecialClub

This episode confirms why a 2009 revival of Spitting Image would never make it off the drawing board.

Although I found Boyle's joke to be perhaps a little too personal against Adlington, British society is definitely not as thick skinned as it once was.

Boyle's joke was just that, a joke. Boyle makes jokes about everyone (which is what satirists and comedians are supposed to do).

[tinman]

you never hear Margaret Beckett complaining.

[hallam]

Originally Posted by DavetheScot

why the need for her to respond now? This is what seems to be forgotten; Boyle's crap joke was made over a year ago. I can understand that she's a young girl, her looks are a bit of a sensitive matter to her, and if she'd said at the time that she was feeling hurt about it, I'd have felt pretty sympathetic. But she's had over a year to get over it, and yet she's still so annoyed about it that she's putting in a complaint that he's been too leniently disciplined over it. That's not sensitivity, it's jaw-dropping huffiness and a massive sense of self-importance.

Because the BBC Trust's Editorial Standards Committee has only recently, at the end of October, upheld the complaints that Mock The Week had breached editorial guidelines by broadcasting comments by Boyle about Rebecca's appearance.

The Trust ruled the comments were 'offensive and unacceptable for broadcast'. It also concluded that Rebecca had not courted publicity or celebrity status, making the personal remarks unjustified, and that therefore there was no editorial reason for comments about Rebecca's appearance or sexual innuendo about her to be included in the programme.

The point made since then by her agent is that such rulings, even though they uphold the original complaints, are somewhat useless if no further sanctions are taken against the programme makers, which seems fair enough.

[NickLangley]

The Beeb "fired" Carol Thatcher for a remark made in private. Seems fair enough that Frankie Boyle should be kept off the Beeb for precisely the same reason.

[hotpotato]

Originally Posted by garywh

Ok, now I hadn't heard or read what FB had actually said about RA until I read this forum and the links contained in it, but I gotta say he's got a point, and I laughed cos I'd never noticed it before.
Anyway, my opinion of RA had already gone down a notch or two after her failure in the Swimming World Champs, in which all she could do was cry about how she didn't win, instead of being happy for her mate Jo Jackson who had won the gold. If I recall, Jo was over the moon for RA in the olympics, and stood back as RA got all the adulation.
Now I've lost any respect for her, she should have just kept quiet and left it to go away quietly. Now everyone is aware of it.

What an appalling post. Has it ever crossed your mind that her upset and (only mild) dip in form this year was as a result of digs like this from cretins who will never achieve anything in their entire lives let alone two Olympic gold medals? obviously not. You must be so proud. tell us what you have ever achieved, go on. i am quite sure she can manage without your "respect"

[Paper Doll]

I thought Boyle had said she looked like The Penguin from Batman. Did he say this on another show or was it someone else?

[DavetheScot]

Originally Posted by hallam

Because the BBC Trust's Editorial Standards Committee has only recently, at the end of October, upheld the complaints that Mock The Week had breached editorial guidelines by broadcasting comments by Boyle about Rebecca's appearance.

The Trust ruled the comments were 'offensive and unacceptable for broadcast'. It also concluded that Rebecca had not courted publicity or celebrity status, making the personal remarks unjustified, and that therefore there was no editorial reason for comments about Rebecca's appearance or sexual innuendo about her to be included in the programme.

The point made since then by her agent is that such rulings, even though they uphold the original complaints, are somewhat useless if no further sanctions are taken against the programme makers, which seems fair enough.

But why does she want further sanctions, a year after the event? Why such an overreaction? That's my point.

The BBC Trust's conclusion that she hasn't courted publicity or celebrity status is, by the way, absurd. She chose to compete in the Olympics, just like Wayne Rooney chose to become a professional footballer, Natalie Cassidy chose to become an actress, Barry Manilow chose to become a singer, Andrew Marr chose to broadcast on TV and Leon Brittain chose to go into politics. Every one of these has had their appearance ridiculed; in no case has this been ruled to be inappropriate. Rebecca Adlington is a celebrity just like the rest; either all can have their appearance ridiculed or none can.

[degsyhufc]

I think the fact that she is an athlete shouldn't come in to the issue. It's that since her outstanding performances she has seemingly been happy to appear on chat shows, quiz shows (QoS), adverts and have sponsorship deals. So she has courted celebrity.

[hallam]

Originally Posted by DavetheScot

But why does she want further sanctions, a year after the event? Why such an overreaction? That's my point.

The BBC Trust's conclusion that she hasn't courted publicity or celebrity status is, by the way, absurd. She chose to compete in the Olympics, just like Wayne Rooney chose to become a professional footballer, Natalie Cassidy chose to become an actress, Barry Manilow chose to become a singer, Andrew Marr chose to broadcast on TV and Leon Brittain chose to go into politics. Every one of these has had their appearance ridiculed; in no case has this been ruled to be inappropriate. Rebecca Adlington is a celebrity just like the rest; either all can have their appearance ridiculed or none can.

The point the BBC Trust is making is that nobody at that time knew who she was, apart from in her role as "the girl who won two gold medals at the Olympics in her chosen sport". She hadn't courted publicity or celebrity status, all that she did was have the temerity to win two gold medals. Therefore the personal remarks about her appearance and the sexual innuendo aimed at her were offensive, unjustified and unacceptable.

The ruling has only just been made, a year after the event. Now that the ruling has been made, her agent is now making the point that even though the complaints have been fully upheld, the ruling is somewhat pointless without sanctions being taken against the programme makers, which it probably is.

Programme makers have clear editorial guidelines that they have to follow, in this case even the show's producer later admitted that they had gone too far.

[samm2311]

Originally Posted by tysonstorm

I agree with Frankie Boyle, her face does look like someone looking at their reflection in a spoon. That or either a fat kid who's face has been squashed between 2 elevator doors.

Clearly that hastily given OBE has gone straight to her spoon-faced head.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and i for one would not want to lie down with a moomin, she has to accept that ribbing is a part of life and as my OH said there are far stronger and faster swimmers than her in the UK but they have not been discovered because only the mediocre get picked up.

Another Paula Radcliffe in the making - she who likes to piss and deficate on public roads like a dirty skanky tramp and looks like an accident from a petrie dish.

[atg]

Originally Posted by Berties Assetts

Jesus Christ beagle features needs to get a life, its not bullying its comedy, if you put yourself in the limelight then expect some insults ect.

Real celebs like posh,jordan ect have been subjected to far worse and yet strangely no complaints unless its is something serious, stupid girl has made her self a target and to the FM who said swimming is a job - are you for real? at best its a bloody hobby.

Yeah, stupid old her for actually having the audacity to achieve excellence in her sport, when, being British she ought to be satisfied with just avoiding being humiliated by losing in front of thousands, and instead has to put up with the foul and cowardly comments (well would he have said it to her face? Or her boyfriend's?) of a 10th rate comedian who thinks he can make a living out of it.

Don't know which is more depressing, that somebody thought to put it out in the first place or some of the twerps on here who thinks it is still comedy.

And why do so many of them seem to be located north of the border, or was that just my imagination?

[atg]

Originally Posted by Gulftastic

Well said. I despair that this sort of infantile bullying is considered 'comedy genius'.

Bottom line: if he says this sort of stuff and gets a laugh he will get another pay day. So it perpetuates.

[atg]

Originally Posted by DuckSeason

get that stick out your arseholes.

Oh, cutting.

Originally Posted by DuckSeason

I think it's sad that this country is run by a bunch of nannies who think they can tell me what I can and can't find funny.

No, you really don't understand do you. Nobody can ever tell you what you can find funny, or what you can and can't think. There are no such things as 'nannies', in fact if you feel intimidated or repressed by them maybe you need the nanny. There are jokes about a million subjects you might find funny, but you would never expect to hear on tv.

[queenofthenile]

Originally Posted by NickLangley

The Beeb "fired" Carol Thatcher for a remark made in private. Seems fair enough that Frankie Boyle should be kept off the Beeb for precisely the same reason.

Carol Thatcher didn't make her remarks in private though. She made her remarks to work colleagues at her place of work.

[queenofthenile]

I've just google imaged a photo of Rebecca because I didn't know what she looked like. She's a lovely young girl. What's the matter with Frankie Boyle, picking on a young girl like that? Cutting edge comedy? My ****

http://www.swimskills.co.uk/images/p...on_350x350.jpg

[pink_lil]

I think some of the point has been missed here. FB was sexually degrading her by implying that the only way she could hold on to a good looking boyfriend was by being "dirty" in bed. The joke wasn't about her being unattractive but about how FB perceives her sexually and in this case not in a very funny way.

RA didn't make any complaints to the BBC, they were all from the public in her defence. Comedy is subjective and I find FB really cuttingly funny most of the time, but this was just a nasty excuse to be shocking.

[10000maniacs]

Am I missing something here, but I think she is good looking. Frankie Boyle can't talk really can he? He looks like an upside down version of Bob Ross.
Will be waiting with glee to see what life has to throw at him. Cancer would be too good for him.

[DavetheScot]

Originally Posted by hallam

The point the BBC Trust is making is that nobody at that time knew who she was, apart from in her role as "the girl who won two gold medals at the Olympics in her chosen sport". She hadn't courted publicity or celebrity status, all that she did was have the temerity to win two gold medals. Therefore the personal remarks about her appearance and the sexual innuendo aimed at her were offensive, unjustified and unacceptable.

Yes, Rebecca was known as the girl who won two gold medals, Rooney was known as a footballer, Natalie Cassidy was known as the girl who played Sonia in EastEnders, Barry Manilow was known as a singer, Andrew Marr as a political reporter and Leon Britton was known as a Tory MP. All famous people in their own fields. All equally fair game or not, whichever your view is.

I honestly can't see the distinction you're trying to make between Rebecca and other celebrities.

Originally Posted by hallam

The ruling has only just been made, a year after the event. Now that the ruling has been made, her agent is now making the point that even though the complaints have been fully upheld, the ruling is somewhat pointless without sanctions being taken against the programme makers, which it probably is.

The ruling probably is pointless, though it makes it unlikely that Rebecca will ever be mocked on any BBC show again (though there'll be plenty of online mockery to make up, this time with real antipathy behind it).

It's just fairly unattractive that she's still so annoyed after a year that she thinks sanctions are necessary. It makes her come across as someone who can't let go of a grudge.

Originally Posted by hallam

Programme makers have clear editorial guidelines that they have to follow, in this case even the show's producer later admitted that they had gone too far.

Fair enough; I didn't think the joke was funny myself. Just as long as the guidelines are applied equally to jokes about other celebs, not just swimmers whose supporters seem to see them as something different.

[Sammy2]

I might have missed it, but why has this taken 1 year and 3 months for this to come up?

[DavetheScot]

Originally Posted by queenofthenile

I've just google imaged a photo of Rebecca because I didn't know what she looked like. She's a lovely young girl. What's the matter with Frankie Boyle, picking on a young girl like that? Cutting edge comedy? My ****

http://www.swimskills.co.uk/images/p...on_350x350.jpg

She looks better in some pictures than others. There's better ones of her than that.

But yes, she's really not bad-looking. Just whiny and up herself.