समाचार

The return of “Gavin and Stacey” after nearly 10 years was a big hit on Christmas Day for the BBC, but it also drew some blowback from U.K. viewers over the use of a homophobic slur in a song lyric.

The romantic comedy drew the Beeb’s biggest audience for a Christmas Day program since 2008 with 11.6 million viewers. The hourlong special also gave the BBC its biggest audience share in the 16-34 demo of the year. Viewership peaked at 12.3 million.

But the special also generated some anger among viewers who were expressed dismay at the use of the f-word homophobic slur in the performance of the Pogues’ Christmas chestnut “Fairytale of New York.” The sardonic song that dates to 1987 has for decades been one of the most popular Christmas tunes in the U.K.

The BBC defended the inclusion of the lyric in the duet performed by two characters known...