Column by David in The Times.
Following on from David Cameron’s Twittergate episode last week, a debate seems to have started on the political correctness of the word t***. A case in point: by sticking that many discreet asterisks into the word The Times has just joined ranks with those, mainly in the north of this country, who see it as virtually synonomous with the C-word, as opposed to soft southerners, who hear only a slightly harder form of twit. It used to be a go-to word for comedians on the airwaves looking for an easy insult, but I’ve noticed that, recently — possibly even since Cameron’s gag — the BBC, all ears for offence, has been bleeping it on programmes such as Radio 4’s The Now Show.