Comic Frankie Boyle in race storm

Channel 4 has been condemned for broadcasting "deeply offensive" language used by comedian Frankie Boyle. Frankie said the words "nigger" and "Paki" in an episode of his Tramadol Nights series shown on Tuesday. Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom is already investigating Frankie's show after he made a controversial joke about Katie Price's disabled son. Tory MP John Whittingdale said the Scottish comedian should not be allowed to continue with his brand of humour. "The words are deeply offensive to a large number of people. I don't think even in comedy it is justified," he said. "Frankie Boyle is becoming a serial offender. I really think Channel 4 will have to think whether it's appropriate to screen programmes which are regularly causing offence to a lot of people. It might be a breach of the Broadcasting Code. Ofcom will have to determine that." But Channel 4 said the use of the words was "satirical", not racist. A spokesman said: "Channel 4 strongly refutes any suggestion we are endorsing or condoning racist language by our broadcast of Frankie Boyle's Tramadol Nights. "This cutting edge comedy is clearly intended to ridicule and satirise the use of these words - Frankie Boyle was not endorsing them. Channel 4 would not have broadcast these words had they been used in a racist way. All the jokes highlight the unacceptable nature of this language." The spokesman added that strong warnings about the content were made ahead of the programme and Channel 4 received one complaint about racism following the broadcast.

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.