Osbournes' Brits prompted 128 complaints

Coverage of this year's Brit Awards - including a swearing tirade from host Sharon Osbourne - prompted 128 complaints, the broadcasting regulator said today.

Ofcom said no rules were broken despite Osbourne telling Vic Reeves to "p**s off you b****rd".

Complaints were also down on last year when Russell Brand offended 262 viewers with his references to drugs and body parts.

The main causes of concern about February's ITV1 coverage were "bad language and the portrayal of the use of alcohol".

In particular callers complained about the incident between Osbourne and Reeves. The comedian was meant to be presenting an award but Osbourne bundled him off the stage for behaving drunkenly.

She told him: "Get on with it, you p****ad...Shut up you’re p**sed, p**s
off! P**s off you b****rd... p**s off."

The show began at 8pm and Ofcom ruled: "While we understand that this language may have been offensive to some viewers, it was broadcast after the watershed and in a programme with a particular reputation...

"Further, Ofcom research indicates that the examples of language quoted are generally considered quite mild."

The portrayal of alcohol was "limited and incidental", the ruling continued.