The British Broadcasting Corporation, also known as the BBC is a public broadcasting corporation. Therefore, it is left to ban materials that deviate from certain standards of civility. Over the years, many singles that were seen as too nasty explicit, or have the possibility of offending the British public were banned from BBC airplay. Here you can read about some of them.


In 1977, when England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the Sex Pistols had released their second single titled God Save the Queen. The single includes controversial lyrics that rhyme the title of the national anthem with the fascist regime. Moreover, the record cover displayed a photo of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in his nose.

The single was found in the air offensive was played by the BBC, but has not prevented it from reaching number two on the BBC official singles chart. According to myth, God Save the Queen was the best selling single in the UK at the time, but was held back to number one to avoid controversy.

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin scandalous duet Je taime ... Moi Non Plus, translated: I love you ... I too, was the first ever hit number being banned by the BBC. Although at the time of its launch in 1969, the sexual revolution took place, the British radio was not yet able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.

The ban on the BBC and Vatican complaint, did not stop ... Je taime Moi Non Plus to be sold only in the UK and around the world. On October 7, 1969, the single reached number one in the BBC official singles chart. At the same time, had reached number 69 on the U.S. chart singles.

Je taime ... Moi Non Plus was a big influence on another BBC banned single, Donna Summers groundbreaking 1976 album titled Love to Love You Baby. After having 23 orgasms fake made by the summer of Love to Love You Baby, the British Broadcasting Corporation banned the song. However, it has not prevented it from becoming a massive success. Love To Love You Baby reached number four in the UK charts but only reached number two on the Billboard pop chart.

Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the single most controversial and commercially successful singles in history. The BBC not only ban the song also does not stop BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read to publicly express their feelings of disgust the only explicit lyrics. In 1984, Relax been in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks. In five of them, stayed at number one. In late 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb has lifted the ban. Relax is still very popular worldwide and is one of the most recognized symbols of the era. The arguments on whether it was a great success despite the ban on the BBC or the BBC ban helped promoting not yet been resolved.

Paul McCartney and Wings' response to the events of Bloody Sunday 1972 entitled Back to Ireland to the Irish, was banned by all media assets in the United Kingdom. It was forbidden to be broadcast by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. In addition, the title song was not allowed to be uttered in the air, so when it came to the series of BBC Radio 1 shows the graph as a record by the group Wings. However, turning to Ireland to the Irish hit the top of the Irish singles chart.