Channel 5’s The Sex Business breaks Ofcom rules over ‘graphic sexual activity'
Channel 5 series The Sex Business has been criticised by Ofcom for breaching broadcasting rules.
The three-episode series, which began in December 2018, documented the lives of sex workers in the industry, with episodes titled Pain For Pleasure, Trans On Demand, and Orgasms For Sale.
While the show aired after the watershed at 10pm, with a strong warning preceding the series, broadcast regulator Ofcom has ruled the show broke their rules by displaying sexually explicit content.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: ‘Our investigation found these programmes broke our rules by including images of extreme, graphic sexual activity.
‘These were far more explicit than viewers would be likely to expect in a programme broadcast an hour after the watershed.’
The show broke rules on post-watershed explicit sexual content, with the regulator stating there was ‘insufficient masking’ of the ‘strong, extreme and graphic sexual activity’.
Citing data from BARB, they claim an estimated 30,500 4-15 year olds watched the show’s second episode titled Trans On Demand.
In a statement issued to Metro.co.uk, a Channel 5 spokesperson said: ‘The Sex Business is a programme of public interest, offering a unique insight into an industry employing around 100,000 people in the UK.
‘We note that Ofcom considered this was a serious observational documentary and that the inclusion of sexual content clearly supported the editorial purpose, presenting the lives and experiences of the workers featured in the series.
‘Although there were very clear warnings as to the explicit nature of the content both before the programme and every break part, we acknowledge the findings from Ofcom and will reflect on the decision before repeating any of the episodes in question.’
The Sex Business is now in its second series, with the latest episode focusing on elderly people working inside the industry.
The Sex Business continues on Channel 5 Tuesday at 10pm.
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