Elton John swears
on afternoon TV

Sir Elton John ignited a flurry of complaints from TV viewers after swearing on an afternoon talk show that was broadcast live. During a visit to Channel 4's The New Paul O'Grady Show to publicize the one-year anniversary of the stage musical Billy Elliot, one of the hit show's young stars asked the pop star what his middle name is. John said it is Hercules, adding that his real name, Reginald Kenneth Dwight, made him sound like "a banker, or a wanker, one of the two."

O'Grady ended the show by saying, "Sorry if it has been a bit raucous, ladies and gentlemen," but the network still received about 20 complaints. Nonetheless, a Channel 4 spokesman said, "It is a live show, and Elton is a guest, but Paul dealt with it there and then and apologized. I don't think it is the strongest language, and we feel that Paul dealt with it appropriately." (The Advocate)