Neither....the word has become part of the language more and more. Whether we are offended or not is down to the individual rather than a newspaper deciding our fate. This article, (Yes I have read it) is another attempt at censoring a country for no reason......we're not protecting our kids, mine use the word far more then my wife or i ever have
I find this particular word very offensive but I recognise that people use it. It is however inappropriate - IMO - before the watershed. Not the first time I have heard this "joke", though.
This is the only word I find obscene. Shame that it was allowed on R4 (I can accept it more in films etc). I expect that labels me as an old fuddy-duddy which couldn't be further from the truth.
Boxtops:
There has never been any official 'watershed' on radio, as there has been on TV. Plays with extremely adult themes, and some very 'graphic' performances, regularly go out during the afternoon on Radio 4.
And, to answer the original question . . .
I heard that transmission of The News Quiz and laughed out loud at the joke.
It's a lot of fuss about nothing.
Several years ago on ISIHAC according to the Uxbridge English Dictionary, the 'killing of Piers Morgan' was the much admired new definition given to the word Countyside.....:o)