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Following Sunday night's screening

Following Sunday night's screening of episode three of Dennis Potter's "The Singing Detective", the BBC received more than 50 telephone calls from viewers complaining about the explicit sex scenes contained within the programme.

1 December 1986


The Times


Mrs Mary Whitehouse, president of the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, stated that the programme had further reinforced the association's conviction that broadcasting should be brought under the Obscene Publications Act. She added that she was going to write to both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.

Mr Michael Grade, director of programmes at the BBC, said that it was "not an easy decision" to allow the screening of the scenes which he had been asked to vet on Friday. After careful deliberation, it was decided that a strong warning should be screened before the programme.