When it was announced Matt Hancock was headed for Down Under to join this year's cast of I'm A Celebrity, a series of sweary responses exploded from MPs, journalists, and more - with GMB's Susanna Reid forced to apologise live on air after the Mail's Andrew Pierce branded the former Health Secretary a "d***head."
While profanities can cause shock and upset depending on the circumstances, swearing can actually be used as a 'powerful and intelligent' tool for communication and self-expression, scientists have said. In the past, the taboo of swearing has traditionally been viewed as a sign of low intelligence or poor vocabulary, with little research into the topic.
But the latest findings suggest otherwise. Scientists have found that swearing can have a positive impact on relationships when used to show signs of solidarity or joy. Using such strong words can also make people appear more persuasive, can make people laugh, and help others deal with certain confrontational situations such as road rage or pain, and improve their performance during exercise, the experts say.
