X-Rated: The Ads They Couldn't Show

Every year, thousands of commercials are made that never reach our TV screens, deemed too shocking to see. In order to make it onto the screen, they must clear all manner of obstacles, from fussy clients to obsessive regulators and restrictive rights issues. X-Rated takes a look at these outlawed pieces of advertising, revealing the most explicit, controversial and shocking ads never seen. These are ads that break all manner of taboos, from sex, violence, blasphemy, homosexuality, animal cruelty, rapping pensioners, swearing children, suicidal toys and naked athletes to Kylie in her undies on a bucking bronco. Amongst the contributors are advertising executives, producers and censors. The programme also takes a look at the embarrassing world of western celebrities in Japanese ads.

Loading countdown...

Engineering Ground Zero

2011

Michael Mosley vs The Superbugs

Michael Mosley vs The Superbugs

2017

Real Fear: The Truth Behind the Movies

Real Fear: The Truth Behind the Movies

2012

The Lobby

The Lobby

2020

School of Fine Arts. Juniper Landscape

School of Fine Arts. Juniper Landscape

1987

Irreverent Imagination: The Golden Age of the Looney Tunes

Irreverent Imagination: The Golden Age of the Looney Tunes

2003

The Racers That Stopped The World

The Racers That Stopped The World

2020

The Living Stones of Sacsayhuamán

The Living Stones of Sacsayhuamán

2014

The Royals From The Balkan

The Royals From The Balkan

2018

Goering: Nazi Number One

Goering: Nazi Number One

2020

Stránky z legionářského deníku

Stránky z legionářského deníku

2000

It Is Now Our Time: Peter Sellars’ The Merchant of Venice

It Is Now Our Time: Peter Sellars’ The Merchant of Venice

1994

100 Per Cent White

100 Per Cent White

2000

Diese Golzower - Umstandsbestimmung eines Ortes

Diese Golzower - Umstandsbestimmung eines Ortes

1984

Anmut sparet nicht noch Mühe

Anmut sparet nicht noch Mühe

1980

The Land of the Wandering Souls

2000

The Execution of the Traitor to the Homeland Ernst S.

The Execution of the Traitor to the Homeland Ernst S.

1976

AbUSed: The Postville Raid

AbUSed: The Postville Raid

2010

The Song of Leonard Cohen

The Song of Leonard Cohen

1980

Rock

Rock

1988