ITV Apologizes for Ramsays Swearing Slip-Up

has been forced to apologise over airing an unedited clip of swearing on a repeat of Food Stars USA.

The celebrity chef, 59, is well known for his no-nonsense attitude and use of explicit language, which are regularly shown in his shows. 

But an ITV blunder saw the f-word featured twice in on-screen subtitles at 8.25am in May, The Sun reported.

While all swearing had been removed from the programme's audio, those using subtitles saw the unedited mishap during the broadcast. 

has a strict code that forbids the most offensive language on TV airing before the 9pm watershed.

ITV2 has since apologised for the blunder and explained that the subtitles were created from a version of the show not edited to remove offensive language.

The channel added that they have now included 'steps to ensure that any mismatch' between versions within the scheduling system is 'apparent and corrected' ahead of broadcast.

However, Ofcom had to take into account that ITV did not apologise after the programme had finished.

Having ruled the error as 'a clear breach', the media regulator penned in a written ruling: 'In this case, the broadcast of the words at 08:25 was a clear example of the most offensive language being broadcast before the watershed.

'This was a pre-recorded programme, which ITV2 would have had the opportunity to check prior to broadcast, and that it included two instances of the most offensive language before the watershed.

'Further, we considered there was no on-air apology made by ITV2 following the broadcast.

'Ofcom took into account the steps that the Licensee said it had taken since being notified of the incident to prevent future recurrence.

'However, in Ofcom's view, these steps would not have impacted on the offence caused to viewers as a result of this particular broadcast.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to ITV for further comment.

Earlier this year, This Morning presenter Ben Shephard had to apologise after Gordon let slip a swear word during the live cooking demonstration.

The celebrity chef was discussing his daughter Holly's wedding to Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty when he accidentally knocked over a container of soy sauce.

 'Oh s**t,' he exclaimed, prompting Ben to quickly intervene: 'Just in case that spilled into the classic Ramsay work, apologies. 

'We are live. I'm just pre-empting a strike.'

Gordon protested: 'I said shoot! Ben - come on, Ben!.'