Dench swearing 'prompts complaints'

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has said that it almost always receives complaints from the public when Dame Judi Dench swears on film.

Its annual report noted that four of the six viewers who complained about the 12A-rated Quantum Of Solace had objected to Dench uttering the phrase "pretty cold bastard".

The board said: "Almost every time Dame Judi swears in a film, regardless of its category, we can expect a number of complaints."

BBFC spokeswoman Sue Clark told The Guardian: "I suppose people don't think she's that sort of person; they don't think it's appropriate for her to swear."

The classification board noted that both complaints it received regarding Mrs Henderson Presents concerned Dench saying "Who gives a fiddler's f**k?", while all three letters objecting to Notes On A Scandal regarded her use of the word "c***".