BBC to air 'I Love the C-Word'

LONDON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The BBC faces scrutiny after announcing it will air "I Love the C-Word," a program that examines one of the most offensive words in the English language.

The program will track the history of the word and examine why it has gone from virtually unspeakable in polite company to part of mainstream culture in the past few decades.

Both Shadow Culture Secretary Hugo Swire and John Whittingdale, chairman of the Commons Culture Select Committee, expressed dismay at the plans.

"People expect high standards from the BBC and many might well be offended by effectively subsidizing programs of this nature through the license fee," Swire said. "The change of language is an entirely good thing to look at, but I don't see why they have to sensationalize the subject."

Contributors to "I Love the C-Word" include feminist Germaine Greer and author Eve Ensler, whose "The Vagina Monologues" features women talking frankly about sexuality and intimacy.