The BBC has decided to edit a past episode of its popular comedy news show Have I Got News For You after complaints about the use of a swear word linked to Victoria Beckham. The episode, which aired on BBC One on 7 November last year, was hosted by comedian Katherine Ryan and included an email supposedly sent by Sir David Beckham that contained the "c-word." During the show, Ryan mentioned that the panel might not be allowed to broadcast the swear word but allowed it because the discussion had already referenced Victoria Beckham. Two viewers filed complaints, arguing that the content was unnecessarily offensive. The BBC’s executive complaints unit (ECU) agreed, stating there was no justification for a comment that equated Victoria Beckham with an offensive term. The ECU's decision has been shared with BBC Content, leading to the replacement of the original episode on the iPlayer streaming service with an edited version. The ECU emphasized that while the use of the swear word was justified by the context of discussing leaked emails and the satirical nature of the show, equating a public figure to an offensive word was not. The ECU previously addressed complaints about the use of strong language in the episode. It stated that the language was justified because the panel was discussing a current news story involving Sir David Beckham and directly quoting from leaked emails. The ECU also noted that it is standard practice to warn viewers at the start of programs with strong language, which was done in this case. The BBC reiterated that it never intends to offend its audience and that its editorial guidelines allow for offensive content if it is editorially justified. In this case, the ECU found that while some aspects of the episode were justified, the specific comparison to Victoria Beckham was not. The edited version of the episode will now be available on iPlayer, reflecting the ECU’s findings.