Ofcom to probe BGT over dancer row (From News Shopper)

Ofcom to probe BGT over dancer row

5:27pm Monday 23rd April 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Ofcom is to investigate Britain's Got Talent after a string of complaints from viewers about a raunchy routine in which a burlesque dancer stripped on stage.

Tattooed performer Beatrix von Bourbon was seen last month peeling off her suit until she was standing on stage wearing stockings, knickers, a corset and nipple tassels before the watershed.

Now the regulator is to probe the ITV1 broadcast after complaints from 70 viewers over concerns that it was unsuitable for a family audience.

A spokesman for Ofcom confirmed it would be looking into whether the programme had fallen foul of the broadcasting code. The code says that children should be "protected by appropriate scheduling from material that is unsuitable for them".

The routine featured in an edition of the programme which was originally screened at 8.20pm on March 31, but it was given an early afternoon repeat the following day at 1.05pm.

It was broadcast twice more on ITV2 before the watershed.

Just last year Ofcom met broadcasters to remind them of their responsibilities around the watershed.

In a report it said: "In the entertainment and talent genres, particular areas of concern include the sexualised clothing and dance routines of performers and/or guest artistes."

Von Bourbon, a dancer and fetish model who performs in lingerie and feathers with saucy routines in clubs, was put through to the next round of BGT after winning the approval of each of the judges. Producers censored the footage on the show by obscuring her chest with small gold stars.

ITV has previously defended the edition of the show, calling it "suitably inexplicit". It said: "BGT celebrates variety and showcases a wide range of different acts. Mindful of our family audience, Beatrix's stylised burlesque performance was carefully edited to ensure it was suitably inexplicit."