Virgin Media says sorry for 'over-zealous' TV guide swearing filter

Virgin Media has apologised after a swearing filter on its electronic programme guide (EPG) censored a number of innocuous words and phrases.

Users noticed over the weekend that words such as 'Arsenal' and 'canal' had fallen foul of new software designed to censor profanities.

Programmes affected by the glitch included panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks, BBC Four documentary The Golden Age of Canals and Will Smith's superhero movie Hancock, which was shown on Channel 5 on Sunday (December 18).

The names of film director Alfred Hitchcock, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker - who hosts a radio show on BBC 6 Music - and writer Charles Dickens were also censored by the software.

Confirming that the company is fixing the issue, a Virgin Media spokesperson said in a statement: "Over the weekend a temporarily over-zealous profanity checker took offence at certain programme titles.

"The altered titles have been swiftly analysed and we're fixing any remaining glitches."

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