Ofcom assessing ITV 'pikey' jibe

Media regulator Ofcom is to consider if broadcasting rules were broken when the word "pikey" - a slang term for gypsy - was used in ITV1's sports coverage

Commentator Martin Brundle was interviewing Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone before the Canadian Grand Prix, where part of the track crumbled.

"There are some pikeys there at turn 10 putting tarmac down - what do you think of that," he asked Ecclestone.

Ofcom said it had received seven complaints. ITV said sorry to viewers.

A "small number" of people had contacted the network after Sunday's broadcast, an ITV spokesman said.

"We apologise for any offence," he added.

An Ofcom spokeswoman said the regulator would assess the interview to see if there had been a potential breach of its broadcasting code.

If this was felt to be the case, a formal investigation would then begin, she added.

Brundle was a Formula One driver throughout the 1980s and 1990s and has won awards for his work as a commentator for ITV.

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Wow, it's taken two days to have seven people complain. Of course it'll offend some, but is it really worth taking action when there are just seven people complaining at the moment?

Also, anybody know what Alonso said that James Allen had to apologise for? I never picked up Alonso swearing at all...

Alonso said towards the end of his interview "We **** up the strategy."

Ahhh, its what you get with live TV though unfortunatly, I mean kimi in Brazil 06 "I was taking a ****" lol Japan 07 from Webber "F****ng kids have to mess things up"

Can't be helped sometimes, but with the pikey thing, just get martin to apologise, and it'll be sorted :)