July 28, 2008 14:20

Sex Pistols on Bill Grundy's 'Today' show most requested clip

Punks' TV swearing tops new poll

The Sex Pistols’ controversial appearance on Bill Grundy’s 'Today' programme is the most requested TV clip ever, according to a professional survey.

The band's sweary live appearance was aired in December 1976, a year before their legendary debut album 'Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols' was released.

The poll was conducted by Freemantle Media, which controls the Thames TV back catalogue, who have recently celebrated their 40th birthday.

The Sex Pistols were not intended guests for the early evening show but were replacements for labelmates Queen, who had pulled out of the interview at the last minute.

Grundy, who has since claimed he was drunk at the time, flirted with Siouxsie Sioux before Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones reprimanded the host, resulting in the following exchange:

Jones: "You dirty sod. You dirty old man."
Grundy: "Well keep going chief, keep going. Go on. You've got another five seconds. Say something outrageous."
Jones: "You dirty bastard."
Grundy: "Go on, again."
Jones: "You dirty fucker."
Grundy: "What a clever boy."
Jones: "What a fucking rotter."

Jones' language, along with Johnny 'Rotten' Lydon's use of the word "shit" prompted the headlines 'The Filth And The Fury' in the Daily Mirror and 'Punk? Call It Filthy Lucre' in the Daily Express, which went on to become names of Sex Pistols' 2000 film and 1996 tour, respectively.

In the recent survey - which counted requests from TV companies to use the clip - Paul Potts' first appearance on 'Britain's Got Talent' came in third.

Leona Lewis winning 'X Factor' in 2006 was the fifth most requested and Will Young's victory in the first 'Pop Idol' back in 2001 was sixth.

The clip can be viewed by clicking below.