They've got form/s

People I know will very much enjoy the plaintive cry from dramatist Jimmy McGovern, about the BBC's Compliance procedures. He's told the Radio Times that scenes in the BBC1 drama, The Street, fell foul of the bureacrats because it was felt they could cause offence to Manchester United fans.

"I ask, 'What is the point of this unit?' And the response is, 'It's in case you cause offence'," said McGovern. According to the Telegraph, the BBC disputes McGovern's version, saying "The BBC compliance team has never told Jimmy he can't write with an anti-Manchester United bias. In fact, no-one at the BBC has ever told Jimmy what he can and cannot write at all. Occasionally people will ask questions about why he has chosen a particular theme or subject, but that's all."

If they're asking all these questions, and the answer doesn't matter, then... ? Here's a brief reminder of the sort of cover the Compliance teams seek from outside producers. 

LEGAL ISSUES	Has a BBC lawyer been consulted?
OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE	Strong, most offensive, language?
	Other language (e.g. blasphemy) which may offend?
SEXUAL CONTENT	Sexual content, either descriptive or innuendo?
IMITATIVE BEHAVIOUR	Drug or solvent abuse?
	Suicide, self harm, hanging?
	Other potentially dangerous behaviour?
	Use of alcohol or smoking?
PORTRAYAL	Potentially contentious portrayal of disabled people, religious groups or minorities?
DISTURBING CONTENT	Images which audiences may find disturbing?
	Depictions of violence, disasters, accidents, kidnapping, exorcism, occult paranormal or horror, real or fictional?
	Violence involving children or domestic violence?
CRIME AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR	Interviews with criminals?
	Demonstration of illegal activity?
REAL PEOPLE	Public figures as contributors?
	References to public figures
PRIVACY	Does the programme contain material of a personal or private nature? Does the programme contain any secret recording?
IMPARTIALITY, ACCURACY & FAIRNESS	Does the programme deal with matters of public or political controversy?
	Is there a personal view or “authored” content which is not balanced within the programme?
	Is a balancing programme required?
	Dramatic representations of living people or people with close living relatives?
	Has any contributor required or been promised anonymity?
POLITICS	Reference to opinion polls/surveys?
	Interview or appearance by party leader?
EDITORIAL INTEGRITY	References to sponsors?
	References to commercial products/brands
	Have any actual or potential conflicts of interest arisen in respect of presenters, contributors or others involved in this production?
SENSITIVE ISSUES	Apart from the above, is there anything else in the programme which should be borne in mind ahead of tx or possible future repeat?
CONTROLLER OF EDITORIAL POLICY MANDATORY APPROVAL	Does the programme contain anything that requires the prior approval of the Controller of Editorial Policy (see bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/ referrals/))