Gordon Ramsay's 240 F-words in under two hours

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Gordon Ramsay's 240 F-words in under two hours
Gordon Ramsay's 240 F-words in under two hours (Image credit: EMPICS)

It's estimated that the F-word was used 240 times on Gordon Ramsay's latest TV show, prompting a call for action from media watchdog Ofcom. Over 103 minutes of Gordon's Great British Nightmare, there were 312 swear words, with 37 expletives in one 95-second scene. Ironically, the show was screened on Channel 4 the day after Ramsay promised he wouldn't swear on a US version of his cook-along series, a deal he's signed with the Fox network. There were complaints from 49 viewers immediately after Great British Nightmares on Friday. On Sunday former Labour minister Denis MacShane said: "Gordon Ramsay might be a good chef, but he is a terrible role model to every child and adolescent in Britain. He is giving two-fingers to people who care about the English language. Channel 4 should give Britain a break from this foul-mouthed soup-stirrer. "This is a clear breach of Ofcom's rules on swearing and it should launch an investigation into the programme immediately." Get exclusive access to your favourite stars. Subscribe to TV Times magazine

Patrick McLennan
Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.