logo


NEWSARSE ARCHIVES



Authors



Page added on December 4, 2009

Email this to a friendEmail This Post                      Printable versionPrint This Post

Ofcom demands use of quotation marks with the word ‘celebrity’

By Jon Price Ofcom demands use of quotation marks with the word ‘celebrity’ thumbnail

Television regulator Ofcom has ordered that the makers of reality game shows must only use the word ‘celebrity’ if it is contained within quotation marks to indicate an ironic use of the word.

The ruling follows a number of complaints from entertainer’s lobby groups that the use of low-grade, so-called ‘celebrities’ in reality programs was devaluing the word, and indeed the very concept of ‘celebrity’.

According to Ofcom’s new ruling, the use of single quotation marks means that from now on, reality TV shows must give notice to the viewer that they will not, in all likelihood, have the faintest idea who any of the contestants are.

The move means that production companies are now frantically changing the logos and graphics of their products to reflect the new rules.

Major re-branding exercises are under way for programs such as ‘Celebrity’ Big Brother, ‘Celebrity’ Masterchef and I’m a ‘Celebrity’, Get Me Out of Here!.

Ofcom has also served notice to the presenters of such programmes, who, according to the ruling, must now ‘make those annoying air quotes every time they mention the c-word.’

Unfair

Many ‘celebrities’ have hit out against this directive, believing that it belittles their status as household names.

“It’s degrading! I’m a respected member of the showbiz community who has ordered a drink in both the Rovers Return and the Queen Vic; yet this questions my validity as a super-star,” said someone we think might have been called Dave.

However bosses at the BBC are said to be less worried about Ofcom’s directive, believing that the massive pay cuts forecast for BBC employees in the near-future will see proper celebrities queuing up to go onto reality television shows in order to supplement their income.

‘It won’t be long before you’ll be seeing the likes of Sir Terry Wogan descending into madness on Big Brother or Bruce Forsyth chowing down on kangaroo testicles for your entertainment.’ claimed one industry insider.



SEA, SUN & FUN

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE WEEKLY NEWSARSE ROUND UP!

ARTICLES & NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Water found on Moon

Water found on Moon
And it is already significantly better than found in Spanish hotels

Dubai Financial Collapse

Dubai Financial Collapse
Lidl to open first Dubai supermarket for destitute Arabs

New EU Presidency

New EU Presidency
I never wanted the job anyway, Blair tells everyone



PLACES TO GET YOUR NEWSARSE FIX

Facebook Twitter email RSS

RELATED STORIES



SPANK ME


KEITH LEMON



LATEST NEWS HEADLINES

ALSO IN THE NEWS

If you need to use a train then it’s ‘peak time’, clarify rail firms thumbnail If you need to use a train then it’s ‘peak time’, clarify rail firms

Responding to claims that their peak-fare rules are unfair and confusing, train companies have explained that peak time is limited only to the times at which you want to use a train.

MORE STORIES

Survey finds public wants cold-callers banned, what do you think? thumbnail Survey finds public wants cold-callers banned, what do you think?

HAVE YOUR SAY

HAVE YOUR SAY Is Man Utd goal scorer Own Goal really worth £85m to Real Madrid?

HOMEOPATHY FINALLY PROVEN TO WORK

HOMEOPATHY FINALLY PROVEN TO WORK “This is the proof that that everyone is asking for. They took the sleeping pills, and just a day and half later they simply could not stay awake any longer.”

OK, THESE MIGHT NOT BE HEADLINES ANY MORE

RSS feed Subscribe to our feed       Delicious Are we delicious?       Digg Add us to Digg       Technorati Bookmark us       Twitter Follow us on Twitter