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Christmas gift to the nation ...

Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt has reversed the decision to censor the Pogues' Christmas hit Fairytale of New York (easily the best Christmas song of all time) after the station was inundated with complaints by listeners.

In what could prove to be the shortest ban in pop history, Parfitt said the broadcaster was "wrong" to bleep the word "faggot" out of the 20-year-old duet with Kirsty MacColl.

Parfitt added that the unedited version of the song would be played from now on.

"After careful consideration I have decided that the decision to edit the Pogues song Fairy Tale of New York was wrong," he said.

"Radio 1 does not play homophobic lyrics or condone bullying of any kind. It is not always easy to get this right, mindful of our responsibility to our young audience. The unedited version will be played from now on.

"In the context of this song, I do not feel that there is any negative intent behind the use of the words, hence the reversal of the decision."

MacColl's mother Jean described the decision as "pathetic ... It's absolute nonsense", speaking on BBC Radio Five Live earlier today.

"Really this is too ridiculous. Shane has written the most beautiful song and these characters live, they really live, and you have such sympathy for them," she said.

"These are a couple of characters who are not in the first flush of youth, I wouldn't have thought. They are what they are, this is the way they speak ... It's like a play and it's very amusing and sad, and it's a great song."

Most visitors to the Radio 1 messageboard agreed, with some claiming it was a publicity stunt by the station.

"Totally pathetic," said one. "Radio 1 plays many songs with far more offensive lyrics, and they even employ Chris Moyles."

Source: Media Guardian