ITV was forced to issue an apology over unedited swearing by Gordon Ramsay in one of its programmes after being rapped on the knuckles by Ofcom.
The media regulator found ITV breached rules by airing uncensored subtitles from one of Gordon’s infamous rants before the TV watershed.
ITV apologised after airing unedited subtitles of Gordon Ramsay’s swearing in Food Stars USA Credit: Getty
The celebrity chef has a reputation for using explicit language Credit: Getty – Contributor
The celebrity chef, 59, is well-known for swearing in his programmes, with his post-watershed shows regularly featuring his explicit words.
But an ITV blunder saw the f-word featured twice in on-screen subtitles at 8:25am on May 2 during a repeat of Gordon Ramsay‘s Food Stars USA on ITV2.
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Though all swearing had been removed from the daytime programme’s audio, those using subtitles clocked the unedited mishap during the broadcast.
ITV2 have since apologised for the error and explained that the subtitles were created from a version of the show not edited to remove offensive language.
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All swearing had been removed from the daytime programme’s audio soundtrack Credit: Getty
Ofcom’s code forbids the most offensive language before the 9pm watershed Credit: PA:Press Association
They said the subtitles were produced in June 2025, prior to “the implementation of new checking processes”.
This includes “steps to ensure that any mismatch” between versions in ITV‘s broadcast scheduling system is “apparent and corrected”.
The channel added that all subtitled versions of Gordon Ramsay‘s Food Stars USA had been “re-checked” following the blunder, as well as having “reinforced its guidance on re-checking” entries in the system.
Ofcom‘s strict code forbids the most offensive language on TV airing before the 9pm watershed.
Telling research by the watchdog revealed viewers have particular objections to the f-word.
Having ruled the error as “a clear breach”, the media regulator penned in a written ruling: “In this case, the broadcast of the words at 08:25 was a clear example of the most offensive language being broadcast before the watershed.
“This was a pre-recorded programme, which ITV2 would have had the opportunity to check prior to broadcast, and that it included two instances of the most offensive language before the watershed.
“Further, we considered there was no on-air apology made by ITV2 following the broadcast.
“Ofcom took into account the steps that the Licensee said it had taken since being notified of the incident to prevent future recurrence.
“However, in Ofcom‘s view, these steps would not have impacted on the offence caused to viewers as a result of this particular broadcast.”
The Jattvibe has reached out to ITV for comment.
