Don't feign outrage at Boycott putting the F into foul language

This past week, Geoffrey Boycott was heard swearing by listeners when he believed he was off-air. The BBC has since apologised to radio listeners for a foul-mouthed outburst from the former England batsman and current sports commentator during its cricket coverage. Writing in the Guardian, Mike Selvey believes the pundit's candid thoughts on radio have shown broadcasters must never be off their guard.

The thing about Geoffrey is that wherever he is he likes to be heard and that includes the background. The last summarising session I did on TMS was to the noise, through the headphones and likewise then to the listeners, of him apparently solving world peace, and climate change. Geoffrey tends to make his own rules these days. The TMS box has always been a lively place to be off-air but by and large, except when Blofeld's Rhinestone Cowboy ringtone got an airing, the then producer Peter Baxter managed to keep a lid on it.