Top Gear

A gentleman call ed Damian Lewis was on Top Gear this evening. He used the word "pi**ed" twice whilst relaying an anecdote about a motorbike collision. This word was not bleeped out as this was on BBC Two rather than Dave, but the subtitles changed the word to 'kissed'. This changes his anecdote completely. These were not 'live' subtitles but the caption style.

I have seen something similar before, during Big Brother when they are using burnt in subtitles, the subtitles will have words blanked out with asterisks but the audio will be intact. When the show is then repeated at an earlier time, the audio will be bleeped. I have always assumed this was so that the person making it suitable for the pre-watershed showing only has to edit the audio and not the visuals.

I hope this isn't what is happening here. The subtitles should reflect what is being said as closely as possible, ideally exactly what is being said. If they had replaced the word with the asterisks that would be bad enough, but to completely change the word is a bit harsh on deaf people, especially if this is just for the benefit of Dave.


EDIT: See also two uses of the word "sh*t" replaced with "chit" on the subtitles.

Can you say 'sh*t' before the watershed?

It was 1 minute before 9 o'clock. Ofcom watchers may be able to elaborate, but I think they may be lenient.

You can say it within context and when used sporadically. F*ck, c*nt and motherf*cker are the only words that absolutely cannot be uttered before 9pm on TV as there is a serious risk of death or something.

don't get why people who f and blind the day long don't want to hear it on tv



Dear BBC

"I would like to complain about somebody saying the f word on TV, it's f#ing disgusting, my f#ing kids could have heard that"

it's an f#ing disgrace

yours very f'ed off

mr angry of S####horpe

Semprini?

Have you been reading the Ofcom complaints, or are you presuming something that may or may not be true?

Although I've noticed as the series have gone on, they have been getting more and more swearier...Not that I'm complaining....

The episode is on BBC iPlayer with complete subtitles including 'pi**ed' and 's**t'.