BEEB RAPPED OVER FOUL-MOUTH TONY; Movie legend's F-word rant on Radio Ulster.

Byline: KEITH ANDERSON 

RADIO Ulster has had its knuckles rapped after legendary film actor Tony Curtis unleashed a foulmouthed rant live on air.

Industry regulator Ofcom slammed the BBC for breaching its broadcasting rules during a May broadcast of Talkback which attracted two complaints from listeners.

Presenter William Crawley sat stunned as the Hollywood star swore three times on the popular current affairs show.

Curtis, who was promoting a book, didn't realise he was live on air when he referred to some journalists as "b*****ds", said his Oscar nomination was "bulls**t" and later said "f**k off" while recounting a story about a previous disagreement.

The shocked presenter, who was sitting in for David Dunseith, apologised on behalf of Curtis.

Interrupting the foul-mouthed rant Crawley warned: "Oh no, now come on. We really, really can't use that kind of language."

This forced a confused Curtis into a desperate apology as he responded: "Er... Oh, it is live. I apologise to everyone. I don't want to offend anyone. Everyone has the right to enjoy what life giveth."

The big screen legend, best known for playing gritty characters in thrillers including The Defiant Ones and The Sweet Smell Of Success, brought an element of "Hollywood realism" as Crawley described the incident to Talkback's 92,000 listeners.

The BBC argued that they had informed Curtis and his people the interview was live, but it was clear from Curtis' reaction he was completely unaware the interview was being broadcast and believed his comments could be edited out later.

But despite the on-air apologies from both Curtis and Crawley, a public apology from the BBC and one sent directly to Ofcom, the regulator ruled the language used in the show had gone beyond the expectations of the audience.

REGULATOR

However, it did add that Talkback was a current affairs programme making it unlikely children would have heard the expletives.

It said: "Ofcom considered that the language, in particular the use of the word f**k, was likely to have gone beyond the expectations of the audience for a programme of this type and at this time."

CAPTION(S):

HOST Crawley INTERVIEW BLUNDER Tony Curtis