Failure of judgement

As expected, the BBC Trust has given a good kicking to those responsible for tasteless gags about the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and procreation, broadcast on Radio 4 at 6.30pm on 21 April, Her Majesty's 90th birthday.

The BBC Executive, whilst apologising regularly and often since the gaffe, can't quite give up the argument their submission: "It considered it possible, had this been broadcast on another day in another slot, that it would have provoked some complaint but would largely have gone unnoticed." 

The Trust thunders back: "The date and timing of the broadcast had heightened the offence caused but, while accepting that they could reach a judgement only on the specific circumstances of this case, they found it hard to imagine circumstances in which this broadcast at any time or on any day would not have given rise to significant unjustified offence".

You'd have thought that, post-Brand/Ross on late night Radio 2, Radio Management had dropped the idea that filth is ok as long as nobody notices.