BBC bosses have defended two Have I Got News For You comedians after they used an ‘unacceptable’ slur.
Katherine Ryan and Maisie Adam both dropped the C-word on the long-running show when it was broadcast on November 31.
The women were talking during a segment about Sir David Beckham, 50, receiving his knighthood at Windsor Castle.
Journalist Ian Hislop, 65, said: ‘But he was meant not to get it, wasn’t he? ‘Cause he’d been pitching for it, and it was considered bad form to be desperate.’
Katherine, 42, was hosting the show. She added context to the story, reading her script: ‘In 2013, when he did not get a knighthood, he emailed his PR saying, “They’re a bunch of c**ts I expected nothing less”.’
Maisie, 31, added: ‘It would have been nice and maybe, like, poetic if Charles had got his own back just by knighting him and then going, “Arise, you c**t”.’
Some viewers were outraged online, calling the language ‘unacceptable’ and ‘jarring’.
Now, however, the BBC has issued a response after receiving complaints from viewers who were unhappy with the inclusion of strong language in the programme.
The statement said: ‘As a post-watershed entertainment programme, Have I Got News for You has always covered and discussed news stories in a humorous, often ironic, manner. The inclusion of any strong language is carefully thought through and it is never our intention to offend our audience.
‘In this particular case, we feel that the use of the strong language was editorially justified as the panel were discussing a current news story about Sir David Beckham and directly quoting from leaked emails in which he had used the word in question, leading to further discussion.
‘As is common practice for programmes that contain very strong language, we mitigated potential offence by adding a clear verbal warning at the start of the programme.’
Taking to social media, PennyAJ wrote on X: ‘Heads should roll for allowing the C word to be broadcast at least twice during HIGNFY.’
While Mary Anness said: ‘Unacceptable broadcasting of the ‘C’ word. This is a recorded programme, so who at the BBC felt it was ok not to cut or bleep it out? Really disappointing.’
And Ray added: ‘Something very odd and jarring about hearing the c word (c**t) on Have I Got News For You.’
Katherine, who recently gave birth to her fourth child, has since spoken out about the response on her Instagram page.
She screenshotted an article from the Daily Express with the headline ‘Have I Got News For You sparks uproar for broadcasting c-word multiple times’, joking in her caption: ‘And that was just my intro!’
Her followers offered their support and perspective.
Laura Jayne said: ‘So funny how people can be more offended over the C-bomb than the rise of fascism.’
Another user, Grace Wild, added: ‘Well I thoroughly enjoyed the use of it.’
‘This has literally made me load and play the episode’, said Emma Gaynor.
After Maisie’s comment in the episode, Katherine addressed the controversial use of the word with a quip about Victoria Beckham: ‘I don’t know that we are allowed to broadcast the C-word.
‘But you did reference Victoria Beckham earlier, and we’ll allow that.’
The crowd could be heard wincing, to which the host responded: ‘I like her really, I didn’t expect that reaction.’
Katherine continued: ‘I do have to clarify, David Beckham denies some of what is in these alleged emails.
‘He says it’s the work of Russian hackers.’
A spokesperson for Sir David Beckham told the Daily Mail at the time of the incident: ‘This story is based on outdated material taken out of context from hacked and doctored private emails from a third-party server and gives a deliberately inaccurate picture.’
On receiving his knighthood, David Beckham said: ‘I am truly humbled and so grateful for this honour.’
He continued: ‘I love our Royal Family and what it means to people not just in Great Britain but around the world. I could never have dreamed that this would happen to me…’.
Posh Spice, a.k.a. Victoria, has taken the name Lady Beckham, according to Sir David, who posted a photo of her, writing, ‘My Lady’.
She posted pictures from the day on her Instagram, writing: ‘You’ve achieved so much, and yet you’re still the same kind, humble, hardworking man I met nearly 30 years ago, as well as the most amazing husband and father.’
This article was originally published on November 9, 2025.
Have I Got News for You returns Friday, 21 November, at 9pm.
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