ITV has formally apologised and received a warning from the broadcasting regulator Ofcom following a significant breach of its watershed rules. The incident occurred during an early morning repeat broadcast of Gordon Ramsay's competition series, Food Stars USA, on 2 May 2026, where uncensored expletives from the celebrity chef appeared in the subtitles.
The 8:25 am showing featured instances of Ramsay using the words “f***” and “f***ing” in the on-screen text, despite the audio itself being bleeped out. Ofcom ruled this as a “clear breach” of Rule 1.14, which explicitly prohibits the broadcast of the most offensive language on UK television before 9pm.
ITV attributed the mistake to “human error,” explaining that the subtitles had been generated in June 2025 from an unedited version of the episode, prior to the implementation of new checking processes. The broadcaster has since confirmed that all subtitles for Food Stars USA, a series Ramsay has presented since 2023, have been re-checked, and guidance on subtitle verification has been reinforced among staff.
Gordon Ramsay, 59, is renowned for his fiery on-screen persona and frequent use of strong language, a trait that has become a trademark of his broadcasting career since his debut on ITV in 2007 with Hell's Kitchen. While his shows typically air post-watershed, this recent oversight highlights the strict regulatory environment governing pre-watershed content in the UK.
The incident echoes past controversies surrounding Ramsay's language, including a proposed, though ultimately rejected, ban on his use of certain swear words by the Australian Senate in 2008 for his American series Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. His ability to refrain from expletives has even been a point of humour, as seen during his 2021 BBC game show Bank Balance, where he reportedly lasted only 45 seconds before swearing.
Viewers can stream Food Stars USA on various platforms, though specific UK streaming availability may vary. The show has not yet received major UK industry recognition like a BAFTA or Brit Award, but Ramsay himself has a long and established presence on British television.