Part-heard (I was multi-tasking), Tuesday 27 October, an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour with two famous women authors, one of whom is an American well-known for her novel which was “controversial for its portrayal of female sexuality” (Wikipedia).
At one point, the American author mentioned a kinky sex scene in her new book, which features the word “pee”. The interviewer nervously reminded her that it is half-term this week (with school children being at home on half-term holiday), which means they have to be careful about their language*. Undeterred, the American author said, “But I think even people in half-term pee.” (My impression is that the interviewer was nervous about the kinky sex scene description rather than the mere word “pee”.)
In spite of having been warned about needing to be prudent with her language, the American author went on to use the V-word (in female anatomy) a few minutes later, which sent the interview into a near fit, saying she (the interviewer) would be summoned before the big boss after the interview.
This reminds me of the American mother of one of my flatmates during my final year at university. She was turfed out of her flat for non-payment of rent, so he moved her into our flat. One day, I found her tipping a pot of old stew into the toilet bowl. When she saw the look of horror on my face, she said, “Why not?!? You crap down it, don’t you?”
*Why, then, did they schedule, not to mention broadcast live (i.e., no censorship possible), an interview on such a delicate subject during half-term and with an American author who’s known for her outspoken views??
(London, 2015 and 1981)
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