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17 June 2013 Last updated at 09:44 ET

BBC Radio 4's Today programme has been censured by Ofcom over an interview with writer Lynda La Plante, during which she used the word "retard".

The Prime Suspect author was discussing her induction to the Forensic Science Society when she made the remark.

She used the word a further two times during the show, which aired in March.

Ofcom said although the first use was editorially justified, the second and third "had the potential to cause considerable and gratuitous offence".

During the interview, La Plante said she was frustrated at being misquoted in the press and pointed to an article published that day in which she was reported to have used the word to describe BBC commissioning editors.

Host Sarah Montague questioned the author further on her use of the language which reportedly "drew gasps" from those who heard it.

La Plante replied: "It was a Q&A, somebody said, 'How do and where do I send a script to?', and I said 'You do not send a script, full script, anywhere, you learn how to do a treatment, because you don't know if there's a retard at the end of that envelope reading it'.

"Suddenly I've called everybody at the BBC a 'retard'."

Changing the subject, Montague said: "...moving on from that use of language, do you feel that the BBC is not listening to you and not wanting to use your work..."

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Today censured over offensive term