Overview
- ITV2 aired a repeat of Food Stars USA on May 2 that showed Gordon Ramsay's f-word twice in on-screen subtitles while the programme's audio track was bleeped.
- Ofcom judged the broadcast a clear breach of watershed rules that bar the most offensive language before 9pm and noted the episode was pre-recorded so ITV had an opportunity to check subtitles before transmission.
- ITV apologised, said the problematic captions were produced from an unedited June 2025 version, reviewed every subtitled edition of the series, and strengthened internal guidance and scheduling checks.
- The regulator criticised ITV for not broadcasting an on-air apology and concluded that the remedial steps taken after the error did not mitigate the offence caused to viewers, including deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences who rely on subtitles.
- The ruling highlights wider risks in captioning workflows and accessibility processes and follows earlier on-air swearing incidents involving Gordon Ramsay that have already drawn broadcaster scrutiny and prompted tighter checks.