Gordon Ramsay's expletive-ridden tirades prompt TV changes

Sydney, June 19 : Furious over celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's much popular expletive-ridden tirades, a Senate committee into swearing on television has suggested several changes in broadcasting standards.

The move comes in line with Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi's annoyance over British cook's show Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and was followed by an enquiry by Senate's environment, communications and arts committee.

In fact, Senator Bernardi revealed that in one of the episodes lasting 40 minutes, the 41-year-old chef had used "the F-word" 80 times.

"And I'm not referring to fondue," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying. This report, unanimously supported by the committee, has called out for parental lock-out systems to be made an industry standard for all digital televisions sold in Australia.

Also, it has asked the broadcasters to think about permanently displaying the classification symbol of a program on screen.

The report has also recommended the Government to review the Australian Communications and Media Authority's role in the regulatory system and has asked the industry to provide clear definition of "occasional, some and frequent" coarse language

Anne McEwen, Labour committee chairmain, said that according to submissions to the inquiry, it wasn't just the coarse language used by Ramsay that was bothersome, but the way he used it.

"People were offended by the way Ramsay directed his language towards restaurant staff in an abusive and aggressive manner," said Senator McEwen.

Also, the report has also suggested many changes in the way complaints are dealt with.

ANI