Swearing and Jokes Censored at the 2026 Brit Awards

The 2026 Brit Awards, held in Manchester for the first time, saw several moments of censorship during the live ITV broadcast. Both Noel Gallagher and comedian Jack Whitehall had portions of their speeches cut due to explicit language and a controversial joke, respectively.

Noel Gallagher’s Expletive-Laden Shout-Out

Noel Gallagher, who received the Songwriter of the Year award, was censored after shouting “Up the f***ing blues” in support of his beloved Manchester City football club. ITV cut the audio as the comment drew a mixed reaction from the audience, with boos audible from rival Manchester United fans.

Gallagher addressed the controversy surrounding his win, noting he hadn’t released latest material in the past year. He stated, “I haven’t written a song for two years. I’m not sure how I’ve got away with that one, but I’ll take it.” He also pointed to the success of his previous work, saying, “We sold a million records last year… Didn’t even get off the couch and I’m not sure there’s a songwriter that can match that.”

Jack Whitehall’s Joke Censored

Comedian Jack Whitehall, hosting the awards for the second time, also had a joke removed from the broadcast. Whitehall’s joke referenced Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein, prompting ITV to censor the segment. He made the joke while gesturing towards a table of politicians, including Lisa Nandy and Andy Burnham.

Angry Ginge’s Comment Cut Short

I’m A Celebrity winner Angry Ginge also experienced censorship while presenting an award. The audio was cut mid-sentence, with fans believing he referred to London as a “s******e.”

The 2026 Brit Awards demonstrated a cautious approach to live broadcasting, with ITV opting to censor potentially offensive or controversial content.