The AP office was rent in two over this sensitive issue. On one side, the two Jonathans, believing that swearing was (a) ungentlemanly, and (b) demonstrative of a limited vocabulary (in flat contradiction of the obvious truth that someone who swears has, in fact, more words at their disposal than abstainers). Ranged against them were Sue Huntley (unchallenged holder of the All-England Girls' Swearing Championship title since 1985) and Stuart Campbell, creator of the Compound Expletives Of Champions.
The final battle of expression took place at the AP Viking Funeral, whereby Jonathan Nash, on rediscovering the rest of the team after having been left behind in the pub toilets, attempted to convey his extreme dismay and disapproval with the words; "I'm really jolly upset." (Rather than, say, "You piss-eating bastard sons and daughters of fuck! I spit on your wives!")
This attempt failed spectacularly, and absolutely no one felt suitably chastised and shamed. Which probably proves that swearing is big, hard and clever, but we can't be sure.
The mag itself was certainly PG-to-12-cert-y, with Stuart sweeping the board in the final issue with a tirade against the foully bugged Kick Off '96, prompting the judge at his suspiciously loaded trial to instruct, "The defendant will moderate his language!"
"Or what?" sneered Stuart in reply. "You'll shoot me?"
Comical sitcom-like cuts. Love 'em.