UK
Channel 5 blurs music legend Graham Gouldman’s hostage pin during interview
The 10cc frontman claimed he was asked to take the symbol off but refused, saying: ‘I am Jewish, it is my tribe’
April 17, 2025 16:28
The 10cc frontman claimed he was asked to take the symbol off but refused, saying: ‘I am Jewish, it is my tribe’
April 17, 2025 16:28The lead singer of English rock band, 10cc, has spoken out after Channel 5 News allegedly asked him to take off his yellow hostage pin ahead of an interview.
Graham Gouldman, the frontman of the famous pop band known for its hits I’m Not In Love, Rubber Bullets and Dreadlock Holiday, appeared on the channel on Wednesday.
He claimed that, before he went on air, he was asked by the presenter what the yellow badge represented. When Gouldman said it was for the hostages, the producer reportedly asked him to take it off, citing Ofcom rules.
Music legend refuses Channel 5 request to remove hostage badge. Broadcaster blurs emblem showing solidarity with Israelis held in Gaza – 10cc icon Graham Gouldman says he would have walked out rather than take it off. https://t.co/76M1G1qzuF
Gouldman, 77, refused but claimed he was “warned” that it might be blurred out when the clip was edited. The pin was not visible when the interview was aired.
Speaking to the JC, the pop legend said: “The producer said there is something in the Ofcom rules about anything political or being aligned to anything like this.”
But he insisted that he does not think the yellow ribbon is political: “To me it is purely about awareness that the hostages are still being held by Hamas in Gaza. I am wearing it to have solidarity because I am Jewish.
“I am Jewish, it is my tribe. I wasn’t going to take it off and I am going to carry on wearing it.”
"Also, that yellow ribbon is not exclusively for freeing the hostages, it also for [sarcoma and bone] cancer awareness. If I had said it is was cancer awareness, what would have happened?” Gouldman added.
He alleged that, when he was told to take the badge off, the show’s presenter Dan Walker and its producer were “very apologetic and sympathetic”. He reportedly later received an email “to say they would show the segment and blur the badge out”.
Goudlman added: “Unfortunately I was wearing a black jacket. Had I been wearing a different jacket it would have been harder to blur out.”
Goudlman, has worn the pin in most of his solo performances since October 7, including at Cadogan Hall last month. “I wore it throughout the tour, and no one said a word apart from a few Jewish friends who knew what it was,” he went on.
He added that he plans to wear it during 10cc concerts this summer, including a show at Hampton Court in June.
A Channel 5 News spokesperson said: “Anyone wearing campaigning badges would be asked to remove them under 5 News’ Ofcom obligations to report impartially. These rules also cover advertising and other types of displays that would be considered to breach impartiality rules.
“If a contributor prefers not to remove a badge or clothing with labels we inform them that it will be blurred in post production to make sure we still comply with those rules.”