Jo Brand’s controversial battery acid joke ‘went too far’, rules BBC

Comedian’s remark ‘went beyond what was appropriate for the show’, found the corporation's Executive Complaints Unit

The BBC has ruled that Jo Brand’s controversial joke about throwing battery acid at politicians “went beyond what was appropriate” for a Radio 4 comedy programme.

Brand made the joke on Radio 4’s Heresy in June, referring to political figures who had been hit by milkshakes, saying: “I’m thinking, why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?”

After the quip was broadcast, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who had a milkshake thrown at him by protesters, accused Brand of “inciting violence”.

The BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit [ECU] disagreed that Brand was inciting violence, but concluded that her joke went too far.

“Whilst the ECU recognised that the wider message from this episode is an argument for more civility in political discourse, not less, and Ms Brand’s contribution is not intended to be taken as face value, the ECU felt that it went beyond what was appropriate for the show,” a summary of the findings stated.

“So it was partially upheld against generally accepted standards of BBC output. The ECU also noted that in the right context and with the right treatment, there is no subject matter which should be beyond the scope of comedy.”

In the radio show, after joking about the battery acid, Brand continued: “I’m not going to do it, it’s purely a fantasy. But I think milkshakes are pathetic.”

Brand later confessed that it was “a somewhat crass and ill-judged joke”.

Following the complaints unit’s ruling, a BBC spokesperson said: “We note the findings and that the BBC’s ECU concluded the comments did not condone violence and that no subject matter should be beyond the scope of comedy.”