The current controversy about the TV watershed in Britain looks destined to be a footnote in television history.
As Guardian critic Mark Lawson has argued, even if such a watershed were to be strictly imposed, the principle is ultimately meaningless now that viewers young and old are able to watch shows on their computers whenever they want.
In the UK, since the days of Lord Reith, the BBC has always taken the moral high ground and stood for their notion of decency and good taste. If they slipped up crusaders like Mary Whitehouse were on their backs.
Nowadays, what Lawson calls the on-screen “slaying, swearing or shagging” may still occur after 10pm but anyone from the age of 9 to 90 with an internet connection and an ounce of curiosity can be ‘corrupted’ the following morning. Continue reading
