From London we learn: “The BBC is to screen the most expletive-strewn programme in TV history. More than 8,000 obscenities will be broadcast when BBC2 shows a screen version of the musical Jerry Springer The Opera in January. The figure dwarfs the previous swearing record of 246 when Channel 4 aired the film Reservoir Dogs last year… The show has caused controversy since it opened in 2001. It contains 3,168 mentions of the f-word and 297 of the c-word – recognised by television watchdogs as the most offensive word to viewers…There is also bound to be controversy over the nature of some of the scenes, which include tap-dancing Ku Klux Klan members and a slanging match between Jesus and Satan.”

And, in a true grab for ratings: “The West End show stars former Starsky and Hutch actor David Soul in the lead role of U.S. talk show host Springer and he will appear in the TV version.”