10/05/2012 15:33 | By Lorna Cooper, editor, MSN TV

Disability slurs prompts Ofcom investigation into Matthew Wright's The Wright Stuff

Matthew Wright's The Wright Stuff is to be investigated by media watchdog Ofcom over disability slurs in a featured survey.


Matthew Wright of The Wright Stuff (© Channel 5)

Matthew Wright of The Wright Stuff

Matthew Wright's daytime show on Channel 5 is being investigated by Ofcom again for a feature that aired on 26 April, 2012.

The Wright Stuff included a segment prompted by Rupert Murdoch's description of prime minister David Cameron's deceased son as "retarded".

The show then cut to a survey worded as follows: "What's the most offensive term to describe someone with learning difficulties: a). mong b) spaz and c) retard". The media watchdog will now investigate to decide if the featured poll breached broadcasting rules relating to offence.

The Wright Stuff has landed itself in hot water on a number of occasions; in December 2011, it prompted the most complaints to Ofcom (over 2,220) as viewers expressed their disgust at presenter Matthew Wright. He imitated the catchphrase of TV detective Taggart while making a reference to the murder of teenager Liam Atchison. The TV star personally apologised to the youngster's parents.

Earlier, in October 2011, Matthew Wright had to make an on-air apology following a discussion sparked by Amanda Knox's successful appeal for the murder of Meredith Kercher. The topic was headed: "Amanda Knox: would ya?"

Talking about the learning difficulties survey, a Channel 5 spokesperson said: "The words were referred to in the programme in the context of a serious and balanced discussion about Rupert Murdoch's use of the term 'retarded' to describe David Cameron's late disabled son.

We believe that Mr Murdoch's overall comment was intended to be supportive of the Prime Minister and his family, and we were focusing on the issues around using modern and appropriate terms to use in relation to illnesses and disabilities."

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