From the Daily Mail, Wednesday 14th June 1984:
BBC admits 'word flash'Page 44 of Variety, Wednesday 20th June 1984:SPLIT-SECOND comic messages, which would be illegal if shown on ITV, have been featured in every episode of BBC 2's comedy series The Young Ones, the BBC admitted yesterday.
The disclosure follows the row over ITV's satire puppet show Spitting Image last weekend, which showed a subliminal messages. These are banned under the Broadcasting Act covering all ITV programmes, but not on BBC programme which are governed by its Royal Charter.
Fastest Joke In London
London, June 19.Subliminal messages have been slipped into segments of two tv satire shows here recently, much to the embarrassment of broadcasting authorities, who have banned such advertising.
First incident to come to light was in BBC's "The Young Ones," which has been running a subliminal gag over the past few weekly shows. The them of the joke remains unclear, because those who have seen it via a freeze-frame video player say it so far consists of seemingly unconnected film clips.
Point of the most recent flash-frame gag, however, is perfectly clear. During a segment of TV's "Spitting Image," a message reading: "'Spitting Image' scriptwriters are incredibly good in bed. Go out and sleep with one now" was flashed on the screen for a micro-second.
Only question is, did it work?
