BBC Escapes Punishment Over Rage Against The Machine Swearing

The BBC will not be punished after Rage Against The Machine swore live on air, media watchdog Ofcam has said.

Singer Zack De La Rocha swore four times as the band performed their song 'Killing In The Name' live on BBC Radio 5 Live in December.

Thirty-two listeners complained to the BBC, despite breakfast show presenters Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty's immediate on-air apologies.

In its report, Ofcom criticised the BBC for allowing De La Rocha to repeat the line “**** me, I won't do what you tell me” four times before fading the band out.

But the watchdog noted that the programme was aimed at adults, and that children were unlikely to be listening at 9am during term time.

The watchdog also acknowledged that Campbell and Fogarty's apologies had helped deal with the matter.

Rage Against The Machine were appearing on 5 Live to promote their Christmas chart battle against X Factor star Joe McElderry.

The band eventually topped the festive chart, propelled largely by a Facebook campaign.