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BBC Trust: Host was Offensive with ‘Religious Hogwash’ Comments

The BBC Trust decided that its host Jeremy Paxman was offensive, but not biased, in comments in Sept. 2011 interview with Richard Dawkins, the Guardian reported.

Paxman had used the phrases “religious hogwash” and “stupid people” about the Old Testament.

The BBC Trust is quoted as saying:

“Although the committee did not agree with the complainant that Mr Paxman’s use of the terms ‘religious hogwash’ and ‘stupid people’ were intended to cause deliberate offence, particularly to those with religious views and beliefs, it nevertheless agreed that they were offensive to some of the audience and that there was no clear editorial purpose for their use in the context of this Newsnight item, taking account of generally accepted standards.”