ITV criticised for showing Alien 'chestburster' scene after kids' morning TV show
Ofcom found the channel in breach of programming code for showing the gory scene at 9.25am
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ofcom has ruled that ITV “breached programming code” by showing the gory 'chestburster' scene from Ridley Scott's 1979 classic Alien on a Saturday morning.
The hugely famous scene, involving British actor John Hurt, was shown directly after Scrambled! - the channel's dedicated batch of children programming including What's New Scooby Doo! - as part of an ITV News bulletin, lasting for ten seconds.
According to Radio Times, regulator Ofcom acknowledged that the news isn't a programme which “normally has a particular appeal to children" but ruled that its 9.25am scheduling on 28 January - following the death of iconic actor Hurt - meant that 19,000 people aged 4 to 15 may well have witnessed the gruesome clip which shows a baby alien bursting through the stomach of character Kane.
“Ofcom considered that parents and carers were unlikely to have expected material of this nature to be shown on ITV before the watershed and immediately after children’s programming had finished.“
ITV have since apologised for the clip. While it stated that the editorial decision to refer to Alien was “made in good faith,“ the channel confessed news provider ITN “had failed to consider sufficiently the suitability of the material for children, given the violent imagery and time of broadcast”.
Scott's second Alien prequel, Alien: Covenant, hits cinemas on 12 May. You can read our review here.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments