Radio 1 Censor The Pogues' Christmas Song

Radio 1 have dubbed the words “faggot” and “slut” out of The Pogues’ Christmas hit, ‘Fairytale Of New York.’

The BBC said that they were playing an edited version of the song “because some members of the audience might find it offensive."

In the song, the late Kirsty MacColl addresses Pogues frontman Shane McGowan by saying: "You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot."

A spokesman for The Pogues said that they "found it amusing that a song that has been one of the best-loved Christmas tunes should suddenly have been deemed offensive."

Appearing on BBC Radio Five, MacColl’s mother said that it was “too ridiculous” that the song should be censored.

She added: "These are a couple of characters - not in the first flush of youth, I would have thought.”

‘Fairytale Of New York’ reached number two when it was originally released in 1987. Since then it has gone on to become one of the most established and well-loved Christmas songs.

To see where the song featured in Gigwise’s Top-20 Christmas songs gallery, click here.

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