No more sex! Listeners protest after racy scenes in The Archers were broadcast during the school holidays Listeners offended by steamy scenes and swearing on other programmes Listeners complained of 'sexual noises' during The Diary of Samuel Pepys The station's editorial standards editor has stood by the material The BBC has defended broadcasting "edgy" sex scenes in The Archers during the school holidays after a flood of complaints. Listeners were offended by steamy scenes and swearing on other usually sedate Radio 4 programmes, including Woman's Hour which is broadcast in the morning. The station's editorial standards editor Roger Mahony stood by the material, insisting Radio 4 is "adult-orientated" and would not change its content for the long school holidays. Listeners were offended after hearing steamy scenes on a number of BBC Radio 4 programmes including The Archers Listeners complained to the station's Feedback show of "distinct sexual noises" during drama The Diary Of Samuel Pepys, "grunts and grinds" during The Archers and swear words in a Woman's Hour play. One complainant, offended by recent sexual scenes in the station's flagship rural drama, said: "I'm an Archers" listener and I'm not a prude but please can all the grunts and grinds [be removed] - we don't need that. We'd rather hear the pigs doing it. Another described a love scene as going a "step too far." She said: "It became a Joanna Trollope novel. It was so cliched and not something I wanted to hear. And one listener from Worcestershire, complained about the Woman's Hour 15-minute play. He said: "I heard a four-letter word that referred to a male sexual organ. Today we have children at home during the school holidays. If they hear bad language on the street and then hear it on Radio 4 it could be assumed that the use of such words is acceptable. Mr Mahony insisted the BBC is "very sensitive" to the school break, but said it was not practical to adjust programming over such a long period and given the differing holiday dates across the country. Next month former television director Sean O'Connor, whose CV includes shows such as Hollyoaks (pictured), takes over as editor of The Archers He suggested that the problem was not the "edgy" content, adding: "The solution here is not actually to start changing the nature or the mix of programmes and subjects, but perhaps to start to inform the audience and make sure they're aware of the types of programmes that are coming up. Parents can take their own decisions about what they want to have on while their children are listening. He added that "taste does evolve" and that the issues were a "matter of judgment," but conceded that the station "may have to recalibrate" if it received more complaints. And more complaints could be forthcoming. Next month former television director Sean O'Connor takes over as editor of The Archers, the world's longest running soap. His CV includes racy TV shows such as Hollyoaks, Eastenders and Footballers" Wives.